Aston Martin contests qualifying results in China (MAJ)

An updated version of this article is available here following the decision by the stewards of the Chinese Grand Prix to reject Aston Martin’s protest.

The Aston Martin team is officially protesting the results of the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix held this Saturday at the Shanghai circuit.

The British manufacturer’s team believes that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz – who crashed during Q2 before returning to the track – should not have participated in Q3 because the rules state that a driver who is declared “arrested” » cannot participate in the rest of the session.

“Any driver whose car stops on the track during the qualifying session will no longer be allowed to participate in that session. » specifies article 39.6 of the FIA ​​sporting regulations.

This Saturday in Shanghai, Carlos Sainz was declared “caught” on the track, but the Spaniard managed to get out of the gravel trap on his own and therefore returned to the track and returned to his stand at moderate speed, while the qualifying session was interrupted. and a red flag due to damage to the tire barriers after his crash.

Once back in his pit, Sainz received a new front wing and new tires on his car and his team allowed him back on track as soon as the green flag returned. The Ferrari driver was then able to set a time fast enough to qualify for Q3. In Q3, Carlos Sainz set the seventh fastest time in qualifying, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

If the Aston Martin team’s challenge is approved by the FIA, it will mean that Carlos Sainz could be excluded from the Chinese Grand Prix qualifying results, which would allow Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll a place in the top ten (he is currently eleventh in the grid).