Juri Vips &

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Alpine F1 driver Fernando Alonso has been reprimanded for impeding Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on his fast lap. The Spaniard was driving slowly on the racing line and didn’t give way to the seven-time world champion on his fast lap. The Stewards' report stated that Fernando Alonso had impeded Hamilton's Mercedes by driving slowly on the racing line between Turn 12 and 13.

The reports of the stewards states, “The stewards reviewed video evidence and determined that the driver of car 14 (Alonso) was driving slowly on the racing line between turn 12 and turn 13 and unnecessarily impeded car 44 (Hamilton), requiring car 44 to take avoiding action. Consistent with the drivers’ request for the Stewards to enforce impeding during P1 and P2 this season, the Stewards issue a Reprimand (driving).”

“Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits,” the report continued. 

Similarly, Red Bull junior team driver Juri Vips, who replaced Sergio Perez as he drove an F1 car for the first time in the free practice session was given a reprimand for hindering George Russell, who was on a fast lap. The stewards’ addressed that Vips was given incorrect information due to a software issue.

“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 36 (Juri Vips) and team representatives and examined video evidence. The team manager indicated that the team had provided the driver the wrong information having had a software issue,” the report said. 

“Thus the driver was following the team’s advice but was certainly driving slowly on the racing line and forced car 63 to take evasive action thereby unnecessarily impeding. Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits”, it further added.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had the best time of 1:19.670 on the soft compound tyre putting him ahead of the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton with timings of 1:19.787 and 1:19.874 respectively.