Zhou given 3-place grid penalty for impeding Verstappen in Belgian GP qualifying

Zhou Guanyu, of Kick Sauber, has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen, in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. 

Feature image credit: Sauber Motorsports

Qualifying was a wet one at Belgium’s iconic Spa-Francorchamps as all of the drivers utilised the green-walled intermediates in all three qualifying thirds. 

The Chinese driver was under investigation in Q1 as there was speculation that Zhou had impeded Verstappen through the flat-out section of Blanchimont. 

The stewards heard from both Zhou and Verstappen, plus their team representatives, and reviewed their positioning/marshalling system data, video, telemetry, team radio and in-car evidence. 

In the document, the stewards deemed Zhou was on the racing line at T17 when Verstappen was approaching, albeit not ‘at full racing speed.’ As a result, the reigning champion was forced to lift the throttle before passing the Kick Sauber driver. 

In the report, the stewards said:  

“The Stewards acknowledge that [the Kick Sauber] team informed the driver [Zhou] about Car 1 [Verstappen] being behind him, but the information given was not accurate enough. 

“However, it is the responsibility of the driver to not unnecessarily impede other drivers. The Stewards determine that Car 24 did unnecessarily impede Car 1 and therefore the standard penalty is applied”

Zhou qualified dead last, in 20th, and exited qualifying for the Belgian GP behind Williams’ Logan Sargeant but – despite the three-place grid drop – he will not start the race in the same position.

This comes after RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified 18th, is set to serve a 60-place grid penalty for the race for a series of new power unit components.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Leclerc takes Belgian GP pole despite Verstappen quickest in qualifying
• Verstappen tops wet F1 Belgium GP final practice as Stroll crashes out
• Friday F1 Round-Up: Verstappen and Tsunoda hit with penalties as Famin leaves Alpine
• McLaren lead the way in F1 Belgian GP FP2
• Verstappen and Tsunoda set for F1 Belgian GP grid penalties
• Verstappen tops opening practice of F1 Belgian GP

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.