FIA announce shock PENALTY for F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hero

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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

FIA announce shock PENALTY for F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hero

The FIA have decided on a late penalty in Abu Dhabi

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Saturday 7 December 2024 21:00

The FIA have handed out a late penalty at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, releasing the news some time after Saturday's qualifying session.

McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start first and second respectively after securing a front-row lockout, in a big boost to the team's constructors' title hopes.

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Whilst Carlos Sainz will start a respectable P3, his team-mate Charles Leclerc will have to fight his way back from P20 after being slammed with a 10-place grid penalty.

However, it was Nico Hulkenberg who stole the headlines in Abu Dhabi, after he set the fourth fastest time in a spectacular result for Haas.

Charles Leclerc has been thrashed with a 10-place grid penalty in Abu Dhabi

Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed a spectacular result in Abu Dhabi

FIA come to Nico Hulkenberg penalty decision

According to the governing body, Hulkenberg overtook two cars in the tunnel section of the pit exit road, which is a breach of Article 12.2.1 i).

Whilst the stewards acknowledged that the position of the team’s garages limited their options to send a driver out on track, they concluded that overtaking in the pit exit could lead to a potentially dangerous situation.

Therefore, Hulkenberg received a three-place grid drop and will start the race in P7, crucially behind his Alpine rival Pierre Gasly.

Haas are currently vying with Alpine and RB for sixth in the constructors’, with the American team only five points away from catching the French outfit.

However, the Haas has demonstrated strong pace across the Abu Dhabi GP weekend, and Hulkenberg will have an opportunity to take the fight to Alpine on-track.

McLaren Lando Norris FIA Carlos Sainz Oscar Piastri Abu Dhabi Grand Prix