AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has to remain out of hassle till Might 2023 – properly into subsequent season – after Sunday’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix left the Alpine-bound Frenchman simply two penalty factors away from a Components 1 race ban.
Gasly, who replaces Fernando Alonso within the French workforce now has 10 factors on his license with 12 in a 12 month interval triggering an computerized suspension.
He was given a five-second penalty and some extent on his licence on Sunday for leaving the monitor and gaining a bonus, forcing Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll off as properly, with out giving again the place.
Gasly, who completed eleventh, mentioned he had not been advised to present again the place and would have a dialogue about what to do in another way to keep away from future factors.
“I don’t really feel like I’ve been that harmful over the past 12 months, and it could be a disgrace to get a race ban for slowing down a bit an excessive amount of behind the security automotive and a few monitor limits (breaches) this yr,” he advised reporters.
The Frenchman urged there could be modifications to the penalty factors guidelines subsequent yr that might get him off the hook: “I believe they’re engaged on it and possibly for subsequent yr, there are going to be modifications. That’s good to listen to.”
Gasly’s offenses embody dashing below purple flag and repeatedly exceeding monitor limits
To date, after 20 of the 22 rounds, Gasly has had penalty factors in Spain (2), Austria (3), Japan (2), the USA (2) and Mexico (1) — 4 of them for collisions, two for dashing throughout purple flag situations, and two for being greater than 10 automotive lengths behind the security automotive.
The opposite two had been for exceeding monitor limits repeatedly and going off and gaining a bonus.
He was additionally fined for pitlane dashing in France, Belgium and Canada and reprimanded in Canada for failing to observe the race administrators’ notes.
Gasly is not going to shed any penalty factors till Might as a result of the primary of his 10 had been collected at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Might 22.
Meaning he needs to be cautious for the final two races of 2022 and presumably the primary seven of 2023 until China, scheduled for April 16, is dropped attributable to persevering with COVID-19 restrictions. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)