Formula 1: Multiple drivers penalized, lose starting positions in Turkey

By Asher Fair | Nov 14, 2020

Carlos Sainz Jr., McLaren, Formula 1 (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

Three drivers were penalized and dropped down the starting grid after the qualifying session for the Turkish Grand Prix, the 14th race on the 2020 Formula 1 schedule.

An exciting and chaotic qualifying session at Intercity Istanbul Park for the 14th of 17 races on the 2020 Formula 1 schedule, the Turkish Grand Prix, concluded with Lance Stroll taking a shocking pole position for Racing Point, the first pole position for a team other than Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull in more than six years.

But the three-round session didn’t conclude for some when the checkered flag flew.

Three drivers were dropped down the starting grid for the 58-lap race as a result of various violations throughout the qualifying session at the 14-turn, 3.317-mile (5.338-kilometer) road course in Tuzla, Turkey.

More from Formula One

Those three drivers were McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr. as well as Williams’ George Russell.

Norris, who was the fastest driver not to advance out of the second round of qualifying, qualified in 11th place, while Sainz qualified in 13th. Norris was dropped five positions to 16th for failing to slow sufficiently under double-waved yellows in the first round of qualifying. Sainz was issued a three-position penalty for impeding Racing Point’s Sergio Perez during the first round, but he only dropped two spots to 15th due to Norris’s penalty.

Norris was issued three penalty points on his superlicense and now has five in the current 12-month period. Sainz was issued one, his only one during the current period.

Russell was slated to start the race from 20th (last) place anyway as a result of taking on new power unit elements for the weekend, but the 22-year-old Briton qualified in 18th to preserve his perfect record against his teammates. Rookie teammate Nicholas Latifi qualified in 20th, and Russell is now 35-0 in terms of qualifying against his teammates throughout his career.

He was also penalized after the qualifying session for failing to slow sufficiently under double-waved yellow flags in the first round of qualifying and issued three penalty points, bringing his total to six in the current 12-month period. The five-position grid penalty he was issued did nothing to his starting spot because of the preceding engine penalty.

Here is the updated starting lineup for the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix at Intercity Istanbul Park.

Starting Lineup
1st – Lance Stroll
2nd – Max Verstappen
3rd – Sergio Perez
4th – Alexander Albon
5th – Daniel Ricciardo
6th – Lewis Hamilton
7th – Esteban Ocon
8th – Kimi Raikkonen
9th – Valtteri Bottas
10th – Antonio Giovinazzi
11th – Sebastian Vettel
12th – Charles Leclerc
13th – Pierre Gasly
14th – Kevin Magnussen
15th – Carlos Sainz Jr.
16th – Lando Norris
17th – Daniil Kvyat
18th – Romain Grosjean
19th – Nicholas Latifi
20th – George Russell

Next. Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark

The 2020 Turkish Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live from Intercity Istanbul Park on ESPN beginning at 5:10 a.m. ET tomorrow morning.

Home/Formula One