The opening F3 race of the Imola weekend was a chaotic affair that noticed 4 security automobile interventions and a digital security automobile interval throughout the 18-lap length.
For the culprits behind the assorted disruptions, penalties have been naturally forthcoming, however the varied sanctions and investigations surrounding the highest three veered into the weird.
Beginning with the Pink Bull-backed pairing who flanked Leon on the rostrum, simply previous to the last-lap VSC to cowl the sector as they handed Luke Browning’s stricken Hitech-run automobile, each Campos Racing driver Goethe and MP Motorsport’s Tramnitz have been revealed to be beneath investigation for a “security automobile infringement”.
Given the breadth of the rules, this might cowl a large number of sins, however it was later deemed that the pair had exceeded the security automobile delta time.
However as each identified, that is peculiar as they have been within the prepare following the security automobile already and, as such, their pace was restricted by each the Mercedes observe automobile and race chief Leon.
Requested concerning the five-second penalty by Motorsport.com, Goethe, who took the chequered flag first and dropped again to second consequently, stated: “This was on the final security automobile, not the digital security automobile.
Oliver Goethe, Campos Racing
Picture by: Method Motorsport Ltd
“As soon as I had caught Noel and the security automobile, I used to be following them and the security automobile was driving faster than the delta and I used to be simply following as a result of when you’re with them, you must keep inside 10 automobile lengths.
“That’s what I did however I used to be, after all, somewhat bit beneath the delta as a result of they have been faster in entrance.
“I don’t imagine it’s fully honest. I imagine they’re investigating it now. We’ll see what occurs however after all, I need the win actually badly.”
Unaware of his penalty however remaining in third by advantage of a near-seven-second margin again to fourth-placed Dino Beganovic, Tramnitz added: “Truthfully, I’m listening to for the primary time so I didn’t even know that I bought a penalty. That’s good to know.
“However I’d simply assume most likely the identical as Ollie. As quickly as I caught that security automobile queue on the final restart, the rule is to comply with the security automobile and keep inside 10 automobile lengths, so that’s simply what I did.
“I feel it will likely be investigated once more however then we’ll see.”
Noel Leon, Van Amersfoort Racing
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Leon weaving investigation
Leon has been summoned to face the stewards at 12:45 native time for failing to comply with the race director’s directions with regard to weaving on a security automobile restart.
The principles on weaving at Imola learn: “To scale back the danger of an incident on the restart, weaving will not be permitted from the doorway of Flip 17 till the driving force passes the road.”
It builds upon the rules which state: “To be able to keep away from the probability of accidents earlier than the security automobile returns to the pits, from the purpose at which the lights on the automobile are turned out drivers should proceed at a tempo which includes no erratic acceleration or braking nor any manoeuvre which is more likely to endanger different drivers or impede the restart.”
Evaluation of the incident exhibits that every one drivers continued weaving after the security automobile lights went out however apart from Leon, the remainder of the sector stopped the movement after Flip 16, whereas the Van Amersfoort Racing driver continued.
Oddly, very like Tramnitz, Leon was none the wiser as to the investigation going through him when requested for his ideas by Motorsport.com.
“To be sincere, I didn’t know I used to be beneath investigation,” he stated.
“I don’t know what I did incorrect. Weaving however I don’t know. I used to be weaving till Flip 17 and that’s good, it says that. I don’t know. I must see with my workforce.”
