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F1: Severe sanctions for kerb-hopping in Monza

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

F1 drivers on Saturday were warned about jumping over the new kerbs at Monza.

Even though the kerbs were modified ahead of this year's Italian grand prix to prevent kerb-cutting, race director Charlie Whiting found the need to issue a caution to all teams on qualifying day.

The FIA official said qualifying laps will be deleted if all four wheels of a driver's car are on the wrong side of the high kerbs, while 'three strikes' will apply before drive-through penalties are imposed in the race.

"Any individual cutting of a chicane in which a clear advantage is gained will also incur a separate drive-through penalty," Whiting wrote in the communique, adding that offenses on the first lap will not count unless a "clear advantage" is gained.

Meanwhile, FIA stewards fined pole sitter Lewis Hamilton 2400 euros for exceeding the pitlane speed limit in Saturday practice, and Jaime Alguersuari is to take a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

However, the penalty will not affect the Spanish rookie, because he qualified his Toro Rosso in last place and therefore cannot be demoted further.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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