Formula 1: Antonio Giovinazzi issued 3-spot grid penalty for Monaco Grand Prix

Antonio Giovinazzi qualified for the crown jewel on the 2019 Formula 1 schedule, the Monaco Grand Prix, in 15th place, but he has been issued a three-position grid penalty.

Alfa Romeo Racing rookie Antonio Giovinazzi has been issued a three-position grid penalty for the sixth of 21 races on the 2019 Formula 1 schedule, the Monaco Grand Prix, at Circuit de Monaco.

The 25-year-old Italian originally qualified his Ferrari-powered car in 15th place for this race by recording a top lap time of 72.185 seconds (103.434 miles per hour) around the 19-turn, 2.074-mile (3.338-kilometer) Circuit de Monaco temporary street circuit in Monte Carlo, Monaco in the second of three rounds of qualifying for the race.

However, he is now set to start the 78-lap race in 18th place, as he was issued a three-position grid penalty for moving slowly through the final few corners of the track and impeding the progress of Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg.

Hulkenberg ended up qualifying in 11th place and failing to advance to the third and final round of qualifying as a result of the fact that Giovinazzi impede his progress.

Here is what the stewards had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.

"“The driver of car 99 was between turn 16 and turn 18 when he was warned exceptionally late that car 27 was behind him. At the time he was in the middle of the track and clearly impeded car 27. The Stewards considered that as the driver of car 99 was on a setup lap, he had the opportunity to give more room regardless of whether he received a warning from the team. Further the team had the opportunity to give a better warning. The Stewards therefore determined that the impeding was unnecessary, and ordered a three grid place drop, consistent with past practice. One penalty point was assessed.”"