Multiple stewards’ summons sees movement up and down Canadian GP grid

It was very busy in the stewards room as eight drivers were summoned to discuss alleged offences during Canadian GP qualifying, including an alleged red flag infringement involving Nico Hulkenberg.

In a chaotic qualifying session that resulted in Max Verstappen’s 25th career pole, there was drama up and down the grid with big names such as Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc exiting in Q2.

Impeding also took centre stage with no fewer than seven drivers summoned to meet with the stewards, three of which charged with alleged offences.

Seven then became eight after Nico Hulkenberg, who wowed the rain-drenched crowd with a P2 result in qualifying, was then called to the stewards after allegedly going too slowly in the red flag period triggered by Oscar Piastri’s crash.

The German was found guilt of the offence and dropped to P5 as a result.

The most notable driver amongst the impeders was Carlos Sainz, who blocked both Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly in the final corner during Q1, resulting in the Frenchman being eliminated.

Afterwards Gasly fumed at Sainz and called for him to be handed a race ban.

Sainz was joined in the stewards room by his team-mate Charles Leclerc who was alleged to have been impeded by AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda but was later dismissed with no further action.

Tsunoda was also in trouble for another incident in which he is accused of impeding Nico Hulkenberg and was handed a three-place grid penalty as a result

Lance Stroll was given the same penalty for impeding Esteban Ocon.

Away from the impeding, both Williams drivers have been summoned for failing to hand back their tyres after FP3, a summons which then turned into a 10,000 Euro fine.

You can read a full report of the session here.