Stroll hit with five-place grid penalty for United States Grand Prix

Lance Stroll has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for the United States Grand Prix following a collision with the Haas of Esteban Ocon during Saturday’s Sprint.

As the action-packed 100 kilometre dash entered into its final stages, Stroll tried to overtake Ocon into Turn 1 – but the Aston Martin driver locked up and hit his rival, putting Ocon out of the running.

While Stroll initially tried to continue on, he subsequently pulled off the track owing to the damage on his AMR25. The incident was then investigated after the Sprint, with the stewards ultimately deciding to hand the Canadian a five-place grid drop for Sunday’s race.

Stroll has also received two penalty points on his licence, bringing his total across the last 12 months to seven points.

A document released following the stewards’ hearing – in which they heard from Stroll, Ocon and their respective team representatives – reads: “Car 18 attempted an inside overtake on Car 31 into Turn 1 but misjudged the braking point and collided with Car 31.

“The stewards determine that the driver of Car 18 is wholly at fault and apply a penalty accordingly.

“As the driver to be penalized did not finish the race a grid penalty equalling a 10 seconds time penalty is imposed.”

Stroll and Ocon were two of five drivers to record a DNF in the Sprint, with the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri – along with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso – retiring from the event on Lap 1 following a first corner melee.