Esteban Ocon’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend took another blow as he was disqualified from qualifying due to a technical breach. The Haas driver, who had already exited in Q1, saw his result wiped after post-session checks revealed his car failed to comply with FIA regulations.
Ocon’s Disqualification in Baku Qualifying
Ocon initially finished 18th in Q1 before being summoned by the stewards alongside Haas. The investigation centered around Article 3.15.17 of the FIA Technical Regulations, which governs the rear wing main plane tip deflection test.
Technical Delegate Jo Bauer reported that the deflection values on Ocon’s rear wing exceeded the permitted limit of 0.5mm. Measurements showed 0.6mm on the left side and 0.825mm on the right, surpassing the threshold allowed under Formula 1 rules.
FIA Stewards Confirm Rule Violation
Following the inspection, the FIA confirmed that the measuring procedure was correctly applied and properly calibrated. Haas admitted the issue stemmed from a production flaw in the rear wing assembly rather than an intentional rules breach.
The stewards nonetheless ruled the car non-compliant, enforcing the standard penalty of disqualification from qualifying results. This means Ocon will officially start from the back of the grid for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Tough Weekend Ahead for Ocon and Haas
For Ocon, the setback compounds a difficult weekend in Baku after an early qualifying exit. The Frenchman and Haas now face an uphill battle in Sunday’s race, with strategy and reliability likely to play a key role in salvaging a result.
Conclusion: Focus Shifts to Race Day in Baku
With Ocon disqualified from qualifying, Haas must regroup and look ahead to the main event. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for its unpredictability, offering Ocon a slim chance to recover positions despite the penalty.
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