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Yellow Flag Penalty Negates Mexico Points Finish
Franco Colapinto delivered a strong performance on Sunday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, crossing the line eighth in round 19 of the Formula 1 season to return to the points zone after four Grands Prix. However, FIA stewards issued the Argentine driver a 10-second penalty along with one penalty point on his superlicence. Officials determined that he did not slow down sufficiently in a sector under yellow flags, reclassifying him 15th and displacing him seven places, which erased the outcome of one of his finest drives of the year.
Double Yellow Flag Infringement Leaves Alpine Empty-Handed
The sanction against Colapinto was not the only setback for Alpine, which concluded the event without scoring points. Pierre Gasly received an even harsher punishment: a stop-and-go penalty convertible to time, equivalent to 20 seconds, plus two points on his superlicence, reaching an accumulated tally of two during the current period. The French competitor's infringement was more severe because it involved an area governed by Article B1.8.4b under double yellow flags, demanding a more pronounced reduction in pace. Stewards examined Gasly's telemetry alongside data from other cars passing through that sector, concluding that the recorded deceleration was not enough to satisfy the requirements of the regulations.
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Opening Lap Gains and Intra-Team Pass
Apart from that bitter conclusion, Colapinto will look back on an impressive launch where he advanced from 11th to gain four positions, putting him into contention to collect championship points. The 23-year-old racer from Buenos Aires was superior to teammate Pierre Gasly, who started ninth and encountered complications from the beginning. The native of Pilar subsequently overtook the French driver on track following his pit stop, making full use of fresher tyres compared to Gasly, who had made his stop earlier in the grand prix.
Verstappen Victorious as Antonelli Clinches Title
Max Verstappen won the race driving for Red Bull, followed by Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari. Kimi Antonelli secured third place aboard his Mercedes, which was sufficient for the 20-year-old Italian to establish himself as the youngest champion in the history of the sport. His achievement represents the first occasion an Italian driver has claimed the title in the premier class since Alberto Ascari was crowned champion back in 1953.
São Paulo Grand Prix Awaits Next Weekend
The championship heads next to South America, where the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil will take place the following weekend. Franco Colapinto will receive encouragement there from thousands of passionate Argentine fans traveling across the border to the neighboring country to support him.
Related reading: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez: Technical Demands and History.
