Lance Stroll hit with five-place grid penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix for overtaking under yellow flags… but the Aston Martin driver avoids a second sanction for failing to slow

• Charles Leclerc stole the show in Las Vegas GP qualifying, taking pole position 
• Stroll placed 14th but was hit by a penalty for overtaking under yellow flags
• The Aston Martin driver is now set to start Sunday’s Grand Prix from 19th place

Lance Stroll has received a five-place grid penalty after he was found to have overtaken Carlos Sainz under yellow flag conditions during practice at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The incident took place during the third and final practice session, after Williams driver Alex Albon collided with a barrier at turn five.

Yellow flags were waved following the collision after the rear left tyre came off his Williams and rolled along the edge of the circuit.

Stewards, who eventually red flagged the session, confirmed Stroll would face an investigation after the Aston Martin driver appeared to overtake Sainz under the double yellow flag conditions.

Stroll had said he had his ‘head down’ looking at his dashboard, as he was concentrating on Sainz ahead of him, resulting in him missing the flags.

Lance Stroll has been hit by a five place grid penalty for overtaking under yellow flags

Yellow flags were shown after Alex Albon’s collision in free practice which ended the session

The stewards ultimately ruled that Stroll be hit with a five-place grid penalty and receive three points on his licence.

Stroll now has five points on his licence across a 12-month period.

‘Double yellow flags were waved at Marshal Post 12.9 as Car 18 approached that point along the straight,’ a statement read.

‘After passing the flags, which were clearly visible on the onboard video from Car 18, Car 18 overtook Car 55.

‘The driver of Car 18 stated he had his ‘head down’ looking at his dash and was concentrating on the Ferrari ahead of him and missed the flags. Although there were no yellow light panels displayed, the regulations are clear that the flags and light panels have the same meaning.

‘Accordingly, the standard penalty guidelines have been applied as to penalty. Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.’

Stroll finished 14th in qualifying but the penalty will see him bumped down to 19th on the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Stroll has been summoned again by the stewards after failing to slow under yellow flags

The Canadian was summoned again by stewards after they investigated whether he had failed to slow under yellow flags during qualifying.

Stewards took no further action with Stroll avoiding a second penalty. 

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured pole ahead of team-mate Sainz, with Red Bull star and newly-crowned world champion once again Max Verstappen perhaps surprisingly down in third.

Lewis Hamilton suffered a bad evening, qualifying in 11th, with both the Brit and Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez out in Q2.

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