In a dramatic turn of events at the Baku City Circuit, Alpine's Esteban Ocon has been sensationally disqualified from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying results, dealing a crushing blow to his weekend ambitions.
The FIA stewards made the decisive call after Ocon's A523 car was found to be in breach of Article 3.6.9 of the F1 Technical Regulations. The violation concerned the required minimum distance between the car's sprung floor and the plank assembly, a critical measurement for maintaining fair competition and safety standards.
The technical infringement was discovered during post-qualifying scrutineering, where officials found the gap exceeded the permitted tolerance. This left the stewards with no alternative but to issue the harsh penalty, completely wiping Ocon's qualifying efforts from the record books.
This development means the French driver, who had initially secured a respectable grid position, will now face the ultimate challenge of starting Sunday's race from the pit lane. The disqualification represents a significant setback for both Ocon and the Alpine team, who have been striving to improve their competitive position in the midfield battle.
The timing couldn't be worse for the team, as the narrow and challenging street circuit of Baku offers limited overtaking opportunities, making a recovery drive particularly difficult. Ocon now faces a monumental task to salvage any points from what has become a weekend of damage limitation.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the precision required in Formula 1, where millimeters can separate success from failure, and technical compliance is as crucial as driver skill and team strategy.
