FIA Investigates Albon for Pit Lane Incident at Qatar GP Qualifying

Williams driver Alex Albon is under investigation by the FIA for an alleged pit lane incident with Esteban Ocon's Haas during Qatar Grand Prix qualifying. This comes after an untelevised near-miss reported by Ocon, potentially jeopardizing Albon's P15 qualifying result.

Why it matters:

An investigation into a pit lane incident during qualifying can significantly impact a driver's grid position, potentially leading to grid penalties or fines. For Williams, who are fighting for every point in the Constructors' Championship, even a minor penalty for Albon could have implications for their standing against rivals.

The details:

• The incident occurred in Q1 of qualifying at the Lusail circuit, though it was not broadcast.
• Esteban Ocon, who qualified P17, reported the near-miss over team radio, stating: "There was almost a crash there."
• Ocon's race engineer confirmed it was with the Williams car.
• Albon qualified P15, while his teammate Carlos Sainz reached Q3.
• The FIA has summoned both Albon and Ocon, along with representatives from Williams and Haas, to meet with the stewards at 22:15 local time in Lusail.
• The alleged breach is of Article 12.2.1 i) of the International Sporting Code and non-compliance with the Race Director's Event Note (item 14, document 27).
• This particular article and note concern the correct procedure for drivers entering the fast lane of the pit lane during a live session.

What's next:

The stewards' investigation will determine if Albon's actions constitute a breach of regulations. Possible outcomes range from a reprimand to a grid penalty for Sunday's race, which could further complicate Williams' strategy and Albon's starting position. The outcome is expected shortly after the meeting with the stewards, which takes place 15 minutes after the scheduled end of qualifying.