Webber and Gutiérrez penalized with grid penalties in Bahrain
Involved in accidents, Mark Webber and Esteban Gutiérrez have been penalized by the FIA stewards present at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver received a three-place grid penalty in Bahrain, while the Mexican driver was given a five-place penalty.
Esteban Gutiérrez quickly ended Adrian Sutil’s race and his own by hitting the rear of the Sahara Force India at the end of the long straight of the Shanghai International Circuit. While Sutil managed to return to the pits despite a heavily damaged rear wing, Gutiérrez had to stop his Sauber at the end of the straight.
The final result, however, was the same for both men, abandonment. Gutiérrez apologized to Sutil and admitted to misjudging his speed. The stewards therefore deemed him responsible for the accident, and he was penalized five grid positions for Bahrain next weekend.
Mark Webber was also involved in an accident, it was with the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne, the Red Bull driver hit the Frenchman’s car, causing him to spin. The Australian driver was summoned by the stewards and was deemed responsible for the incident and penalized with a three-place grid drop for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Also note that other sanctions could follow as nine drivers – Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Kimi Räikkönen, Romain Grosjean, Jenson Button, Nico Hülkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, and Max Chilton – are under investigation for possible illegal use of DRS.
Update at 14:10: The FIA stewards have delivered their verdict regarding the drivers facing penalties for the illegal use of DRS, and none of them have been penalized.
