Massa avoids the sentence but receives a fine

The track stewards have announced the penalty finally given to Felipe Massa after the race incident caused in the pits.

The winner of the European Grand Prix made his second pit stop hastily and did not pay attention when the lollipop man gave him the authorization to start if a driver had already entered the pit lane.

Consequence: Massa and Sutil narrowly missed a collision. The Brazilian and the German found themselves wheel to wheel before the Ferrari driver finally eased up before the end of the pit lane. He would overtake Adrian Sutil (Force India) a few turns later.

During a pit stop, it’s the lollipop man who is supposed to signal the moment when the driver can start. Nevertheless, and too often, no attention is given to drivers already present in the pit lane, risking losing first place, for example.

This maneuver had been announced under investigation by the FIA stewards, and after deliberation following the Grand Prix, the sanction is finally light. Massa is fined 10,000€ and avoids any potential sanction applicable at the next GP.

The Brazilian therefore receives a warning but will not be allowed to make any mistakes in Belgium in two weeks at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.