Gasly 'confused' by stewards' lack of action over Stroll move

A very confused Pierre Gasly said that he will be seeking answers from the FIA over the stewards' decision not to punish Lance Stroll for an overtake outside of the track limits in the British Grand Prix.

The move by the Aston Martin driver took place on the restart at the end of the Safety Car period in the second half of the race.

Stroll mounted an attack on Gasly on the outside of Stowe corner. The Canadian drew level with the Alpine mid-corner but as Gasly left his rival very little room, the latter could only complete the pass by running with all four wheels off the track.

The stewards noted the incident as Stroll received a black-and-white flag warning, but he was not asked to give back the position, much to Gasly's ire as he believed that Stroll's move was a clear-cut case of leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

"To me it was quite clear and it's been always in the regulation he can't leave the track and gaining an advantage.

"On everything that I've seen he had four wheels off the track passing me, and that's gaining an advantage.

• 2023 British Grand Prix - Race results

"I got down 15 seconds last weekend for track limits, now I lose a position today [because] someone getting off the track and nothing happens!

"Formula 2, Victor Martins was in the lead and got a five-second penalty for the exact same thing, so I'm just extremely confused with what's going on at the moment."

Gasly acknowledged that he could have perhaps given Stroll a little more space, but maintained that he left his rival enough room to keep at least "one of the wheels" on the track, and yet "he didn't do it".

"I’ve paid the price in different situations. It’s just not fair, not having that consistency," he added.

"Now next race I’m supposing that going off the race track overtaking someone is allowed. And then all of a sudden you’re going to end up with a five-second penalty.

"I just can’t understand, and it just doesn’t seem fair. It’s black and white, track limits. Black and white! You’re either on the track or off the track.

"If you’re off the race track gaining an advantage that’s a five-second penalty or give the position back."

Frustrated by the stewards' lack of consistency, Gasly said that he would request a proper explanation from the latter.

"It’s got to be crystal clear," he said. "We’re racing at 350km/h. Last week we got penalised for stuff where we feel like we’re not getting the warning properly, and this situation for me, as soon as I saw him going off the race track, I was like, ‘He’ll give the position back’.

"I spent three laps behind him losing time on his gearbox when I should not be there.

"I’m just asking for consistency. If that’s allowed, fine – but it’s got to be allowed for everyone."

Gasly's exasperation was also rooted in the fact that Stroll's overtake "changed what followed after", when the pair clashed again when Stroll ran wide through Silverstone's final complex only to rejoin the track and clumsily make contact with Gasly's Alpine, breaking its right rear suspension.

In this case however, the Canadian was hit by the stewards with a five second time penalty. But that was no consolation for Gasly who was forced to retire from the race.

"So just extremely disappointed because the first part of the race was going well," he said. "We were chasing Fernando, there was good speed.

"I just lacked some straightline speed to try something and get a move on him, but you know, it was still good to be in that pack, and then all our efforts get ruined, you know, with what followed. So disappointed."

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