Giovinazzi avoids grid penalty after Gasly block, Alfa Romeo fined for unsafe release

Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi has avoided a grid penalty after impeding AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly during final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Italian's team, however, has been fined for an unsafe release in a busy post-practice period for the stewards at the Hungaroring.

Following a red flag in final practice after Mick Schumacher crashed his Haas into a tyre barrier, it left just nine minutes in the session for teams to conduct their qualifying simulation runs.

In the rush from the pit lane, Giovinazzi was released into the path of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll who clipped the front wing of the Italian's car.

Charged with an unsafe release, Alfa Romeo has been fined €5,000.

A stewards' report read: "Car 99 [Giovinazzi] left its garage when car 18 [Stroll] was driving in the fast lane. As a result, the two cars had contact and the front wing of car 99 was damaged. The team of car 99 admitted that it was their fault."

Just a couple of minutes later on track, the Italian was moving slowly on the racing line as the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly came powering up behind.

Facing a charge of impeding another driver, Giovinazzi has been reprimanded.

A further stewards' report read: "During FP3 GAS was on a quick lap, while GIO was on an out lap, driving slowly on the line at the exit of T13 in front of GAS.

"GIO had no warning by his team and admitted during the hearing that he impeded GAS. Both drivers agreed to the steward’s opinion that this is not acceptable during free practice."

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