In Shanghai, Aston Martin didn’t agree with the result of the qualifying race. This happened after Carlos Sainz from Ferrari spun off the track during the race.
Sainz’s car stopped for 1 minute and 17 seconds after hitting the wall. But then, he got going again and made it to the next round of the race, leaving Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll behind.
Since their driver couldn’t continue, Aston protested the results. They pointed to a rule in the F1 sporting regulations, saying that if a car stops on the track during qualifying, it shouldn’t be allowed to race anymore.
However, the stewards didn’t accept Aston’s protest. They said the rule is only for cars that get help from marshals or recovery vehicles, not for those that can keep going on their own.
This incident led to a discussion about making the rulebook clearer. Even though it was agreed to add the part about outside help to the rule, it didn’t make it into the regulations for 2024.
Tom McCullough, from Aston Martin, said they respect the stewards’ decision but hope the rule will be clearer in the future. He thinks it’s pretty clear in the messages they get during the race when a car stops.
Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur agreed that it’s important to clarify the rules to avoid confusion. He mentioned that F1’s rules have become more complex over time.
McCullough also mentioned that Aston’s sporting director, Andy Stevenson, immediately noticed the possible rule violation when Sainz’s car stopped. Stevenson knows the rulebook very well and was quick to point out the issue.
