We were very fortunate that the last laps of the Styrian Grand Prix were action-packed enough to save what turned out to be a pretty boring race in every other aspect. But I have no idea how Lance Stroll was able to get away with his late lunge on Daniel Ricciardo.
It’s the move that everyone was talking about after the race: Lance Stroll, feeling the pressure from the pursuing Lando Norris behind, dives up the inside of Daniel Ricciardo, who he had been stuck behind for most of the second stint, and forces him wide. He rejoins the track in front of Norris and maintains his position.
A video on the incident is available on the F1 website.
Although the incident was reviewed by the stewards, it was dismissed as a “racing incident”. But why? The rule violations – yes, “violations” – were quite cut and dry.
It’s quite obvious that Stroll forced Ricciardo off of the track. Stroll carried far too much speed into the corner and there’s no way that he could have made that corner without running wide. Had Ricciardo not taken some action to avoid Stroll, he would have been hit by the Racing Point driver. Ironically, had the two collided, that probably would have earned Stroll a penalty.
Even if the stewards want to look past that obvious rule violation, Stroll still left the track and gained what article 27.3 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations describes as a “lasting advantage”. He couldn’t have made the corner at the speed he was going, so he would have had to come into the corner much slower if he didn’t want to leave the track.
Had he come in slower, the overtake wouldn’t have even happened because Stroll wouldn’t have been close enough. The two were wheel-to-wheel as it was, so it was already a tight move that he nearly wasn’t close enough to make.
But something that I don’t see a lot of people pointing out is the unsafe way that Stroll rejoined the track.
He hopped back over the yellow sausage kerbs on the outside of the corner to rejoin the circuit, which you aren’t supposed to do. Instead, you’re supposed to do what Ricciardo did. You’re supposed to stay off the circuit and rejoin at the end of the runoff area, where the yellow kerbs stop.
Then you also have to consider that he rejoins directly in front of Lando Norris, who was considerably faster, having taken the proper line around the corner at the correct speed. Norris looks at though he needs to slow slightly to avoid hitting the slower Racing Point car.
Then, Norris moves to the inside to try to get by and Stroll moved down with him, blocking him. In fairness, this was probably also partially to give Ricciardo enough space to get back onto the circuit, but it was also not a safe way to rejoin the track.
Ultimately, I think that a penalty for Stroll would have been justified, although I guess the stewards somehow disagree. Cast your vote in the poll below and feel free to make your case in the comments section.
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