Mazepin escapes F1 penalty despite ‘ruining’ Kubica’s qualifying lap

Haas Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin has escaped punishment for holding up Robert Kubica during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix sprint race.
Nikita Mazepin (RUS) Haas F1 Team VF-21.
Nikita Mazepin (RUS) Haas F1 Team VF-21.
© xpbimages.com

Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo stand-in Kubica complained about Mazepin after the Russian rookie♊ appeared to block his rival at the first Lesmo.

Mazepin, who was on an out-lap, had been warned that several driv🦋ers were on fast laps b✅ehind him. The Haas driver attempted to get out of the way of Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and finally Kubica.

The 36-year-old Pole claimed that Mazepin completely ꩲ“ruined” his opening lap in Q1.

“Unfortunate꧟ly, my first run was ruinไed by Mazepin, who was in the middle of the track,” Kubica explained.

“Honestly when I was app🐲roaching, I thought he had an issue but he didn’t have an issue, he just accelerated.”

Robert Kubica (POL) Alfa Romeo Racing C39 Reserve Driver.
Robert Kubica (POL) Alfa Romeo Racing C39 Reserve Driver.
© xpbimages.com

How💫ever the stewards ultimately concluded that Mazepin had done everything reasonably possible to avoid impeding Kubica and therefore decided to take no further𓃲 action.

That was despite noting that Mazepin’s lap was 22 seconds ✃slower than the required minimum time.

“The driver explained that he was stopped by the several cars ahead of him that were driving very slowly and this left him unable to drive any faster ♔in turn six,” the stewards noted.

“The stewards reviewed the video and the team radio and🌳 agreed that both the driver and the team did everything reasonable to avoid affecting any other driver. Therefore, the stewards take no further action.”

Meanwhile, both Aston Martin and Alpine have each been fined €5,000 for a pitlane🌃 incident during Q2.

Aston Martin’s fine related to an unsafe reꦺlease of Sebastian Vettel into the path of Lewis Hamilton, while Alpine was punished for Esteban Ocon’s “team member in the pit lane operating in an unsafe manner.”

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