The Imola Formula 3 weekend begins with news that has surprised the paddock and which, in some way, will inevitably influence the rest of the championship. The FIA has in fact announced that Martinius Stenshorne and Nikola Tsolov have been suspended for an event in the Formula 3 season.
Stenshorne, who is currently 13th in the standings of the preparatory category and who was announced just yesterday as the new McLaren Academy driver after his victory in the sprint in Australia, will miss the next round at Silverstone which should have been held at the beginning of July, while Tsolov will miss the Spa stage which was scheduled for the end of July.
The reason for the exclusion is linked to an article of the regulation according to which drivers who race in F3 cannot race in other championships without authorization from the FIA. Stenshorne actually took part in a GB3 race at Silverstone at the end of April: neither he nor his Hitech team informed the FIA, nor did they ask for authorization in advance. Tsolov also took part in another championship, in the Eurocup-3 championship, where he was also supposed to take part in five events during the season.
Martinius Stenshorne, Hitech Pulse-Eight
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
However, this participation in other categories is considered a violation of the strict sporting regulations, as it would have given the two drivers a “sporting advantage”: not only do the cars of the other two championships have similarities to those of F3, but the drivers also have course on two tracks that will be part of the F3 season in the following months. In fact, therefore, according to the FIA, these two elements guarantee a competitive advantage, because it is as if they had already run on those tracks ahead of schedule.
However, Stenshorne and Tsolov are not the only two who have come under the FIA’s sights. Arvid Lindblad was also fined for the same reason but, unlike the other two, he was not excluded from the upcoming events. The difference lies in the fact that the Prema driver only took part in a GB3 test session, without however taking part in the race: as in the case of the other drivers, Lindblad explained that the test session was organized by his management , while Prema was not aware of the pilot’s participation in the test.
In addition to the ban, Stenshorne had four points added to his license for a total of ten points in twelve months – meaning that if he were to accumulate another two points, another ban would come. Same sanction also for Tsolov.
The FIA document explains the reasons for the harsh sanction: “The driver of car 15 explained that he was not aware of the requirements of article 10.4 and that both activities, the test and his participation in the GB3 event, were organized from his team.”
Nikola Tsolov, ART Grand Prix, Laurens van Hoepen, ART Grand Prix
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“The team representative explained that he was not aware of the driver’s participation in the GB3 test and the Silverstone race until he received the summons from the stewards, but admitted that Hitech Pulse-Eight was present at the event as he runs three cars in the GB3 championship”.
It was further highlighted that even if Hitech and Stenshorne had requested permission, it would not have been granted “due to the similarities between the GB3 car and the F3 car and the sporting advantage gained by the driver”.
Hitech released a statement calling the fine “extremely severe” and decided to appeal. “Hitech Pulse-Eight takes note of the decision of the stewards regarding the participation of Martinius Stenshorne in an event outside the FIA Formula 3 Championship. The sanction imposed is extremely severe compared to similar infringements. Hitech confirms that it has officially appealed against the decision,” reads the team’s statement.
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