Bianchi reprimanded and penalized on the grid of the South Korean GP
Marussia driver Jules Bianchi was reprimanded by the stewards after the qualifying session for the South Korean Grand Prix. He receives a three-place grid penalty and will therefore start 22nd on the grid tomorrow.
French driver Jules Bianchi was penalized three grid places for the South Korean Grand Prix for impeding Paul di Resta during the first part of qualifying.
Bianchi obstructed the road for the Force India driver during Q1 while he was on his last fast lap. Paul di Resta expressed his dissatisfaction on the radio but was able to reach Q2.
The track marshals have decided to reprimand Bianchi for not complying with the regulation that requires a driver during qualifying to let another driver pass if they are performing a timed lap.
The statement specifies: « The driver of car number 22 (on an out lap) received a radio warning that the driver of car number 14 was approaching quickly but decided to stay on his trajectory to start his timed lap well. The stewards judged that car 22 could have easily let car number 14 pass before that. »
Jules Bianchi will therefore start the Korean Grand Prix from the last position. Paul di Resta, for his part, is qualified in 15th place.
Note that Bianchi has already received a reprimand this season. If he receives another, he will be penalized 10 places on the grid for his next start.
The drivers reprimanded to date in 2013
– Mark Webber, 3
– Jules Bianchi, 2
– Charles Pic, 2
– Romain Grosjean, 1
– Lewis Hamilton, 1
– Fernando Alonso, 1
– Valtteri Bottas, 1
– Kimi Räikkönen, 1
– Nico Rosberg, 1
– Adrian Sutil, 1
