<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The provisional Azerbaijan GP starting grid has been revised following penalties for Carlos Sainz, Sergio P\u00e9rez, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sainz originally qualified ninth but received a five-place grid drop<\/strong> for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags. The sanction promotes Franco Colapinto to ninth and moves Oliver Bearman into the top ten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Williams driver also received two penalty points, taking his total to four during the current 12-month period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Single yellow flags were displayed in consecutive marshalling sectors after Turn 2 and on the approach to Turn 3. Williams warned Sainz over the radio: \u201cYellow ahead, lift.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sainz argued that he intended to demonstrate an overall reduction in speed across the affected section. However, the stewards ruled that drivers must slow inside each individual yellow-flag sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Telemetry showed that Sainz reacted only in the second sector. The FIA also noted that he recorded his fastest time of the session in the first yellow-flag sector<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n P\u00e9rez received a three-place grid penalty<\/strong> after the stewards ruled that he unnecessarily impeded Oscar Piastri during qualifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cadillac driver was completing a preparation lap between Turns 19 and 20 when Piastri approached on a flying lap. P\u00e9rez was travelling at approximately 248km\/h, while the McLaren was approaching at around 300km\/h.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Piastri was forced to lift, although he told the stewards that the incident did not cost him significant lap time. P\u00e9rez had received two radio warnings that the McLaren was approaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n P\u00e9rez falls behind Valtteri Bottas but remains ahead of the two Aston Martins because Stroll and Alonso carry larger power-unit penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stroll received a 20-place grid penalty<\/strong>, while Alonso was handed a 25-place drop<\/strong> following changes to Honda power-unit components beyond their permitted seasonal allocations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As neither sanction can be fully served from the drivers\u2019 original qualifying positions, both move behind the rest of the field. Stroll starts 21st, with Alonso in 22nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSainz set fastest sector under yellow flags<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
P\u00e9rez punished for impeding Piastri<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Aston Martin drivers sent to back of grid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n