Lance Stroll has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Australian Grand Prix for causing a collision with Nicholas Latifi during qualifying.
However as the Aston Martin driver qualified in last place, the penalty will make no difference to his starting position.
The stewards held Stroll responsible for the collision at the end of Q1, which tore the left-rear wheel off Latifi’s car and triggered a substantial crash. They accused him of showing a lack of awareness by pulling to the right as he was being passed by Latifi, who he had overtaken moments earlier.
“[Latifi] pulled off course to the left and slowed at the exit of turn four to let cars by, the last of which was [Stroll],” the stewards explained.
“At the exit of turn five, Stroll appeared to not accelerate and was in the middle of the track. Latifi made the decision to accelerate and pass Stroll on the right as Stroll was moving right toward the right-hand edge of the track where the track curves slightly to the…