Stoffel Vandoorne has been penalized following the 20th race of the 2018 Formula 1 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.
McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne finished the Brazilian Grand Prix, the 20th race of the 21-race 2018 Formula 1 season and perhaps the penultimate race of his Formula 1 career, at least for now with him set to drive in Formula E next season, in a disappointing 14th place. He finished the race one lap off the lead lap.
However, Vandoorne’s 14th place result turned even more disappointing for him after the 71-lap race around the 15-turn, 2.677-mile (4.309-kilometer) Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace road course in Sao Paulo, Brazil came to an end.
The 26-year-old Belgian was penalized for ignoring blue flags during the race. The penalty that he was issued was a five-second time penalty, which demoted him from a disappointing 14th place finish to a disappointing 15th place finish.
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Vandoorne did not finish the race in the top 10 (nor anywhere near it), so he did not lose any points as a result of the fact that he was issued this penalty. He still sits in 16th place in the driver standings with 12 points heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the season finale.
The driver who originally finished the race in 15th place made a name for himself in this race in a way other than being promoted to 14th as a result of Vandoorne’s penalty, which he was. This driver was Racing Point Force India’s Esteban Ocon.
Ocon put himself at the center of controversy in this race when he collided with race leader Max Verstappen of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in an attempt to unlap himself. He ended up finishing one lap off the lead lap.
Despite the fact that Vandoorne’s penalty promoted Ocon to 14th place, Ocon did not end up scoring any points as a result of it. He still sits in 11th in the driver standings with 49 points through the season’s first 20 races.
Be sure to tune in to ESPN2 on Sunday, November 25 at 8:10 a.m. ET for the live broadcast of the what may very well be Stoffel Vandoorne’s final Formula 1 race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at Yas Marina Circuit. This race is set to be broadcast live from Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.