Alex Albon and his Williams team used a cunning tactic at the Spanish Grand Prix to avoid receiving an FIA penalty at the next race in Canada.
Thai driver Albon had a dreadful Sunday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, starting in 11th place.
Albon lost out at the start and had to pit after an incident on lap one that caused front wing damage, dropping him to the bottom of the field.
Albon, having worked his way through the field following his early pit stop, was looking for another points-scoring finish before a showdown with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.
That particular battle for 11th saw contact between the two drivers on two consecutive laps, with the first of those landing Albon in hot water.
The 29-year-old clearly went off the track and remained ahead of Lawson, despite the New Zealander being ahead of Albon’s Williams heading into the corner. Lawson pleaded on his team radio that Albon should have to give the position back, but he was forced to do it the hard way, with the pair once again making contact on the next lap.
The incidents caused grave damage to Albon’s front wing once again, and the Williams team told Albon to retire the car after a torrid afternoon.
Albon’s clever trick
However, as Albon was on his way back to the pits to retire the car, it was announced by FIA race stewards that Albon had been handed a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
If Williams had retired Albon’s car before serving the penalty, he would have had to serve it at the Canadian Grand Prix, when it was most likely converted into a qualifying grid drop.
To avoid Albon’s nightmare race having an impact on his next race later in June, the team effectively instructed Albon to pit and serve his penalty before returning him to the track for one lap.
Then Albon returned to the pits to retire his Williams vehicle, leaving four-time grand prix winner Carlos Sainz as the sole remaining Williams car in the Spanish Grand Prix.
It means Albon will travel to Canada on June 13 with a blank slate, erasing all memories of Spain.
