The FIA has told the teams that drivers face a penalty if they are deemed to have gained a lasting advantage by running wide at Turn 8, where an offence in qualifying led to the deletion of that lap.
It has been made clear that drivers cannot use the extra momentum gained by running wide to launch a pass into the first corner.
A note from Charlie Whiting today says:
“During the race, any driver leaving the track on the exit of turn8 who appears to have gained a clear and lasting advantage by doing so, will be reported to the stewards. We would not, for example, expect a driver who left the track on the exit of turn 8 to attempt to pass a driver in front of him into turn 1.
“Furthermore, any drivers who repeatedly leave the track on the exit of turn 8 will also be reported to the stewards. Drivers are reminded that if they leave the track they may re-join but only if they do so safely and without gaining any lasting advantage.”
