Aston Martin is contesting the qualifying results

The results are finalized only five hours after the end of qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix. Qualifying results >>>

Aston Martin contested the title immediately after the session ended. The reason: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s slip.

The Melbourne winner made a mistake in the final corner in the second qualifying session, spun at the start of the finish straight, hit the car slightly and caused a red flag. He had previously been standing on the grass with a partially demolished Ferrari, but drove without any help and into the pits for repairs. The Spaniard was lucky that his car could be repaired.

That’s why Aston Martin started the protest

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Aston Martin then staged a protest against the qualifying results. It was about compliance with Article 39.6 of the sports regulations. It states that any driver whose car stops on the track during qualifying or sprint qualifying will no longer be allowed to participate in this session. While Sainz then finished seventh, Lance Stroll only managed eleventh place in the second Aston Martin.

After hearings and hours of deliberations, the result: the protest was denied.

Race officials justify this by saying that Sainz was able to continue driving without any outside help. There have also been cases in the past where cars remained stationary for a long time but were able to continue driving, it continues.