The marshals of the 2023 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix have decided not to impose a sanction for the collision between the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
The commissioners have decided not to pronounce any sanction for the clash between the two Alpine during the last start of the Australian F1 Grand Prix, which eliminated both drivers and cost the French team big points.
After the incident involving Kevin Magnussen four laps from the finish, the race direction decided on a Safety Car and then a red flag. Under these conditions, the race was restarted with a standing start for two laps. During this third and final start of the Melbourne race, several incidents took place, including one which saw the two Alpines collide at the exit of turns 1 and 2.
After going out in the gravel at turn 1, Gasly returned to the track. Ocon tried to pass him from the right taking advantage of his best speed but the two men finally made contact and were hooked, then sending each other into the wall and towards a bitter retirement. The marshals took up the incident and decided not to impose a sanction, judging that it was a typical incident at the start of a race.
“The marshals heard the driver of car 10 (Pierre Gasly), the driver of car 31 (Esteban Ocon), a team representative and reviewed positioning and timing system data, video and on-board cameras and determined that this was a first-lap racing incident.”can we read. “Both [pilotes] recognized and accepted it as such. In these circumstances, we have taken no further action.”
A penalty for Pierre Gasly would have been likely to add penalty points to his license and result in a one-race suspension, with rival teams having refused to erase those received by the Normand last year for offenses that were not related to dangerous behavior on the track.