![](https://vcpmotorsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gasly-skirts-ban-as-he-avoids-penalty-for-first-lap.jpg)
Pierre Gasly has avoided drawing any closer to a race ban after the stewards chose not to penalise him for colliding with his team mate during the Australian Grand Prix.
The Alpine pair collided on lap 56 of the race, following the third standing start of the day and second red-flag period. Gasly went off at turn one and tangled with Esteban Ocon as he rejoined, putting both into the barriers and ending their races.
The stewards spoke with both drivers after the race as well as a team representative and deemed the collision “a first lap racing incident”, in light of the fact it followed a standing start.
“Both cars [drivers] recognised and accepted this as such,” the stewards noted. “In the circumstances, we took no further action.”
Avoiding a penalty will be a relief for Gasly, who has 10 penalty points on his licence and is close to triggering an automatic ban. If he incurs two more before the Monaco Grand Prix at the end of the month he will miss one race.
Ocon said he did not blame his team mate for the collision, and that Gasly apologised to him.
“It was unfortunate to have both our cars come together at the third standing start,” said team principal Otmar Szafnauer. “I’m glad both drivers are okay given the nature of the incident.”
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2023 Australian Grand Prix
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