Because he stood in Max Verstappen’s way on his fast lap, Guanyu Zhou has to swallow a grid penalty, but it has basically no consequences
Sauber driver Guanyu Zhou has been handed a grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix by the race stewards for obstructing world champion Max Verstappen in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps
The Dutchman hit the Sauber, which was on the racing line, on the way through the fast Blanchimont corner. Verstappen took his foot off the accelerator and gestured towards Zhou as he finally passed the Chinese driver. He also said on the radio: “Hello? What the hell?”
The incident was investigated by the race stewards after qualifying, who blamed Zhou for the incident. Sauber had informed Zhou about the approaching Verstappen, but the information was “not accurate enough”, as the stewards found.
As a result, Zhou dawdled on the racing line and talked to his engineer about possible set-up changes.
Nevertheless, they found that it was the driver’s responsibility not to unnecessarily hinder other drivers. But that’s what Zhou did: “Car 24 stayed on the racing line in turn 17 as car 1 approached, even though he was not at full race pace,” they said. “Car 1 had to take his foot off the gas briefly before overtaking car 24.”
“The stewards determine that car 24 unnecessarily obstructed car 1 and therefore the standard penalty is applied.” This provides for a three-place grid penalty, but without penalty points.
However, the penalty has no impact on the Chinese driver: he finished 20th and last anyway and therefore cannot be moved any further back.
Despite the last place and the penalty, Zhou moves up the grid because Yuki Tsunoda takes a completely new set of engines and is moved to the back of the grid – regardless of other sporting penalties.
Despite the incident, Max Verstappen made it through to Q2 and even snatched pole position in the end. However, because he also had an engine change, the Red Bull driver will start the Belgian Grand Prix ten places further back in eleventh position