Gasly facing Azerbaijan GP qualifying disqualification

Pierre Gasly faces disqualification from qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to an alleged technical infringement with his Alpine.

Alpine driver Gasly was knocked out in Q2 and at present is due to start from 13th on the Baku Street Circuit grid for Sunday’s race.

Following checks made by the FIA’s Formula 1 technical delegate Jo Bauer, however, it has been discovered that Gasly’s car “exceeded the instantaneous fuel mass flow”.

This is a breach of Article 5.2.3 of the 2024 Formula One Technical Regulations which states that with regard to engine specification, the “fuel mass flow must not exceed 100kg/h [kilograms per hour].”

Bauer has referred the matter to the stewards for their consideration.

As this is a technical infringement, and the rules are black and white, the punishment is ordinarily a disqualification, in this instance from the qualifying classification.

If so, it will be the third disqualification after qualifying this year. Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were disqualified from the Monaco GP after their cars breached rear-wing measurements.

Alex Albon suffered the same fate after a new floor on his Williams was found to minimally breach the rules after qualifying for the Dutch GP.