Stroll reprimanded for crossing the pit lane entry line

Lance Stroll has been reprimanded in Austria after the rookie Canadian was found to have crossed the white line entering the pitlane. Drivers are required to stay inside the painted line at all times entering the pit lane in order to notify any cars behind that one is coming into the pitlane.

This is the first reprimand that the 19-year-old has received this season. A note from the stewards read: "The driver agreed that he made an error entering the pit lane and crossed the line at pit in while recovering from that error. The stewards noted that this was not a dangerous manoeuvre."

If drivers are handed three reprimands across a season with two coming from driver infringements, the driver in question will be handed a 10-second grid penalty at the next possible Grand Prix start. 

Practice in Austria hasn't been smooth so far for Stroll who was unhappy with the rear of his car throughout the day. Despite Williams bringing upgrades to this event, the team looked off the pace with Stroll confirming that there is time to be found overnight.

"The field is very tight. We are missing a bit so there are bits and pieces to work on overnight. We don't look as competitive as we were in Baku, for example, but that can change. It is such a short lap round here and a couple of tenths can get you quite a few places.

"We are going to work to try and solve it for tomorrow, as we are lacking a bit of grip everywhere and are just not able to push the car as hard at some of the others. I haven’t debriefed with the engineers yet, but I do think we have a good race car."

Fergal Walsh