Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
Formula 3 has overturned several penalties following the Sprint Race, reinstating Oliver Goethe’s win.
Second placed Oliver Goethe (now first placed) celebrates on the podium during the F3 Imola Sprint Race (Image Credit: James Sutton – Getty Images)The top three drivers from today’s race have been shuffled around in their position, due to Noel Leon receiving a time penalty and Goethe and Tim Tramnitz both having a penalty reversed.
Goethe, who crossed the line first in the Sprint Race, was given a five-second time penalty for failing to stay within the minimum time during the Safety Car procedure. The win went to Leon, who had come across the line second.
Speaking to the media, including FormulaNerds after the race, Goethe mentioned that he didn’t think the penalty was fair.
“This was in the last Safety Car, not the Virtual Safety Car, the Safety Car,” he said. “Once I’d caught Noel and the Safety Car, I was following them and the Safety Car was driving quicker than the delta.
“I was just following them because once you’re with them, you should stay within 10 car lengths and that’s what I did. But I was of course a little below the delta because they were going quicker in front.
“I don’t believe it’s completely fair, I think they are investigating it now. We’ll see what happens but of course, I want the win really badly.”
Now, Goethe’s penalty has reversed, because the timing matrix was not reflecting changes made to Article 40.7 of the 2024 Sporting Regulations at the start of this season.
The decision document stated that: “The Safety Car delta times matrix showed that Car 10 (Goethe) was below the delta time when in fact the provision of being above the minimum delta time did not apply anymore.”
Tramnitz, who finished third on track, also received a penalty for the same infraction, which was reversed as well.
Leon’s penalty
Ahead of the weekend, in a meeting with the drivers, the Race Director informed them that they would not be permitted to weave “from the entrance of Turn 17 until the driver passes the line.”
The instruction was given to reduce the risk of an incident, and while Leon was found to have been weaving at that corner, the stewards found that there was no risk of an incident in his case. Still, since they also found that he “gained a sporting advantage by warming up his tyres after Turn 17”, he was given a five-second time penalty.
As a result of this penalty, as well as Goethe and Tramnitz having their penalties reversed, Goethe takes the race win, and Tramnitz takes second over Leon.
Full, updated results can be found here.
Feature Image Credit: Joe Portlock – Getty Images