No further action for Esteban Ocon-Kevin Magnussen incident

Spanish Grand Prix

No further action for Ocon-Magnussen incident

Practice three incident deemed a racing incident

Sam Hall

Saturday 15 August 2020 14:31

Formula 1 race stewards have deemed no further action is required after a bizarre incident between Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.

With little over a minute remaining on the clock in final practice, an incident between Magnussen and Ocon brought out the red flags in Barcelona.

Lapping slowly, Ocon pulled to one side of the track to allow Magnussen through, the Dane on a qualifying simulation. Magnussen then aborted his lap, slowed down and pulled into the middle of the track to allow a fast approaching Williams car past.

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The incident occurred when Magnussen made his move into the middle of the track. Ocon appeared to be caught out by the move and failed to react, avoiding contact only by steering violently right at the last minute and spinning into the concrete wall.

After the session, both drivers were summoned to the stewards.

The steward's report read: "The Stewards (i) heard from the driver of Car 31(Esteban Ocon) and the driver of Car 20 (Kevin Magnussen) and team representatives and (ii) have reviewed multiple angles of video evidence, radio calls to the drivers and telemetry data.

"Ocon was on an out lap having just exited the pits. Magnussen had just completed a timed lap. Magnussen passed Ocon going from turn 2 to turn 3 but then began to slow. On the straight, halfway between turn 3 and turn 4 Ocon swerved to avoid a slowing Magnussen and crashed against the wall.

"Discussing the incident with the drivers and examining the evidence, the Stewards determined that Magnussen lifted and slowed using ERS harvesting; there was no use of the brakes that contributed to the accident. This was confirmed with telemetry. Magnussen pulled gently off line, having been advised of following traffic on fast laps. At the same time Ocon was also moving to the right to let traffic by and was looking in his mirrors for the cars following. When he subsequently looked forward, he was surprised to see Magnussen directly ahead of him and swerved to avoid a collision. Both drivers and the Stewards agreed that it was an unfortunate accident and that neither driver was to blame. The Stewards therefore take no further action."

Renault has confirmed: "After the incident, Esteban visited the medical centre for precautionary checks. He's ok and back in the paddock now. The car is in the garage and being worked on for qualifying."

Before you go...

Hamilton tops final practice as Ocon crash ends the action early

Russell: "Horrific" Pirelli hard tyre "deserves no place on a Formula 1 car"