The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has lodged a protest against the results of the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix.
The FIA’s announcement that an Aston Martin representative has been summoned to the stewards at 6.30pm local time did not initially offer any further detail about the reasons behind Aston Martin’s protest.
But it was later clarified by the stewards that the protest was related to a number of cars potentially going unpenalised for breaches of Article 33.3 of the sporting regulations, meaning for track limits abuse.
The stewards said a “reconciliation” is to be performed by race control of deleted laps and the penalties issued.
This is expected to take considerable time – with it understood that as many as 1200+ instances were flagged of a car potentially leaving the track, although a review was apparently already underway before the protest.
Aston Martin finished sixth and 10th in the race with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Both Alonso and Stroll finished well within five seconds of the cars ahead, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly respectively.
As they so often are at the Red Bull Ring, track limits were a hot-button topic during qualifying on Friday – and much of Sunday’s race action was dictated by time penalties for infringements.
“I think it made us as a sport look a little bit… when you’ve got so many infringements, it’s a bit amateurish,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
“The problem is, it’s very difficult for the drivers because they can’t see the white line from the car, so you’re just purely doing it on feel and the circuit invites you to go there.”
“It’s strange to be driving and have to almost comment on the car ahead [and point out potential track limits breaches] because that’s what the team ask you to do,” said Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who was among those penalised.
“I think they did it in Austin a few years ago. It’s not racing, right?
“That’s not motorsport. That’s not racing.”
