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Stroll permitted to start Australian Grand Prix despite not meeting 107% rule
Lance Stroll has been permitted to start the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, despite failing to set a time within 107% of the fastest Q1 lap time during the race weekend so far.
Aston Martin arrived in Melbourne facing significant reliability issues due to excessive vibrations from the Honda power unit, and its track time was heavily limited on Friday. Stroll completed three laps in FP1 and a further 13 in FP2, with a best lap six seconds off the pace.
Having missed the final practice session and qualifying with further power unit concerns, Stroll didn’t have a time on the board that showed he could complete a lap within 107% of the pole position time, and Aston Martin had to apply for the Canadian to be allowed to race.
“In accordance with Article B2.4.3b of the FIA F1 Regulations, the stewards have the power to grant permission if circumstances justify it,” the stewards wrote. “These circumstances include taking into account parameters where ‘a suitable lap time [has been] set in another practice session, the general performance of the driver in Competitions of the Championship…’”
Aston Martin submitted that Fernando Alonso had comfortably qualified within 107% to display the car’s potential performance, and highlighted Stroll’s experience and results in Formula 1, particularly the mileage he already has in the car and his previous performances at Albert Park.
The team also stated it had not run Stroll in qualifying “out of prudence” while it investigated a damaged oil line in the car.
The stewards considered the reasons to be “compelling” and have granted permission for Stroll to start the race on Sunday. Max Verstappen, who crashed at the start of Q1, and Carlos Sainz, who also didn’t run at all, were both additionally granted permission to race having set satisfactory times in practice.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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