Red flag rules cost Alex Peroni reverse-grid pole and championship points
Red flag “count back” rules have cost Alex Peroni a potential pole position for Race 2 of the second round of the FIA Formula 3 Championship, as well as 0.5 championship points.
The FIA Formula 3 field lines up in pit lane as the session is red-flagged. (Image: Formula One/Youtube)
The Tasmanian driver was running in tenth position after several tense battles throughout the shortened race, before two simultaneous incidents and poor weather brought out the red flag.
A tenth-place finish grants a driver pole position for Race 2 on Sunday, and is the final points-paying position.
The FIA Formula 3 regulations state that if a race is completed under a red flag, the final positions will be classified according to the running order at the end of the penultimate lap of green flag racing.
This meant that while fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri benefited, elevated one position to fourth place, Peroni dropped to P11 - losing a possible ten grid positions for Race 2.
The incident that brought out the 🚩🚩🚩 in Race 1#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 #F3 pic.twitter.com/X2gJyDCdOE
— Formula 3 (@FIAFormula3) July 11, 2020
With the race shortened, points were halved, meaning a P10 finish would have been worth 0.5 championship points, and in the tightly-contested 30-car field, even half points are extremely important.
The FIA Formula 3 Championship returns for Race 2 on Sunday at the Red Bull Ring.
