Kevin Magnussen has been banned for the next F1 race in Baku after a collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly at the Italian Grand Prix, which put him over the penalty points limit.
Magnussen crossed the finish line in ninth but was given a 10-second time penalty, dropping him to 10. However, he was also given two penalty points, bringing his total to 12 this season, for which he was banned from racing.
It is the first time a driver has failed this rule since it was introduced in 2014. Romain Grosjean was the last driver to be banned from racing after causing a multi-car crash at the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix.
The stewards considered Magnussen to be “all to blame” for the contact at the second chicane and for not driving “safely and under control through the manoeuvre”.
Gasly finished the race in 15th place because he was on a different strategy during the battle with Magnussen.
“Gasly and I have a slight contact,” Magnussen said Sky Sports F1 before he knew of his punishment.
“There was no damage to either car, no consequences to the race. We just had a slight contact and missed a corner. And what? We raced. I don’t know why we have to throw a penalty like this.
“Besides that, I almost saw Nico (Hulkenberg) thrown into the wall at 300kph (200mph) by (Daniel) Ricciardo. I’m not saying he did it on purpose, but he got five seconds and got 10 seconds. for this.”
Magnussen may be at the end of his F1 career as he is out of contract for 2025 and Haas have announced new drivers for next year Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
The Dane got frustrated, even before he knew about the ban, and didn’t want to talk to the flight attendants.
“Usually it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “I have to go and talk to them. I’ve talked to them many times and I still don’t know what the rules are.
“He doesn’t want to race. That’s what I want. If this thing between me and Gasly can’t be considered a racing incident, I don’t know what can. It doesn’t make sense.”
Gasly wants Magnussen’s ban overturned
Gasly was shocked when told of the 10-second time penalty and penalty points for Magnussen.
The Alpine driver was willing to talk to the stewards to reverse the decision, which led to a ban from the race.
“Honestly, it’s nothing,” Gasly said. “In the afternoon we were dead slow. We really need to get on top of that because I really believe we will have more potential in the race and it’s a lot harder.
“Someone told me he got a 10-second penalty. I was a little surprised that he tried, but it was a bit of a wheel and in the end I didn’t lose. I was surprised.
“I hope they can turn it around because it’s not fair. I’d be happy to do it (talk to the flight attendant) – I’ll see what I can do. It would feel unfair for that to happen.”
Who will replace Magnussen?
Magnussen will return to the Singapore Grand Prix on September 20-22 and will have his 12 penalty points removed.
However, Haas will have to fill the seat for Azerbaijan in the two weeks of September 13-15.
Britain’s Bearman is the choice as he will join Haas next year and has been a driver this year.
Bearman stepped into Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March and finished an impressive seventh on debut.
Formula 1 leaves Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 13-15, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime