Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, Circuit of the Americas, 2018

Bottas and Ocon cleared over driving too slowly

2018 United States Grand Prix

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Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Ocon have been cleared by the stewards after being investigated for driving too slowly during qualifying.

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The pair were summoned to the stewards after both were found to have exceeded the maximum time between the Safety Car lines during in-laps. The rule is in place to prevent potentially dangerous speed differentials between drivers on qualifying laps and those returning to the pits.

The stewards ruled both drivers “did not drive unnecessarily slowly or in a manner to adversely affect any other driver.”

“Noting all the circumstances involved, the stewards take no further action,” they added.

Bottas and Ocon are therefore set to start Sunday’s race from third and sixth on the grid respectively.

Ocon said he was “really happy” with his performance after leading the midfield teams in qualifying.

“It’s awesome to be sixth on the grid – the best of the rest – but it was a really close session all the way through,” he said. “In Q3, my lap was very strong and the car was working really well.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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10 comments on “Bottas and Ocon cleared over driving too slowly”

  1. Dale
    21st October 2018, 4:22

    Obviously.
    Which manufacturer are they contracted to again?

    1. Ajay
      21st October 2018, 6:10

      You really think Ferrari based teams would sit idle if there was a factual bias towards merc ? Are we really that naive ? Huh ?

      Even going by your claim, if it is so, then its karma time for Ferrari. They have been helped a lot by fia before (based on your current claim)

    2. Profile Photo

      Sundar Srinivas Harish (@sundark)
      21st October 2018, 7:23

      I think you need to convey a message to Charlie.

    3. Boudi
      21st October 2018, 10:41

      FIA removed the second sensor off the Ferrari PU and here you go, they have their power boost again. So cheer up, they are helping you as well. Finger boy fan.

      1. Dale
        21st October 2018, 15:40

        You realise that making up news doesn’t suddenly make something fact because you said it online, right?

  2. NyMame
    21st October 2018, 8:34

    Charlie Whiting in race director’s notes pre-qualifying:

    “In order to ensure that cars are not driven unnecessarily slowly on in laps during and after the end of
    qualifying or during reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is opened for the race, drivers must stay
    below 1m59s between the Safety Car lines shown on the pit lane map.”

  3. Marcel
    21st October 2018, 10:12

    I didn’t even know this rule existed….. Like a lot of the today’s rules, please scrap it!

    Too slow, too fast, too this, too that. Just race and see who finishes first.

  4. Ronald
    21st October 2018, 10:22

    Okay, so with this rule actual circumstances do have an influence. Happy to see that. They should do that more often.

  5. Profile Photo

    Gabriel (@rethla)
    21st October 2018, 16:17

    This is the second time Bottas is upp at the stewards for driving to slow right? Ironic.

  6. MaliceCooper
    22nd October 2018, 1:15

    Bottas and Ocon cleared over driving too slowly… And then Ocon disqualified for driving too fast.

Comments are closed.