In a shocking turn of events, Red Bull-backed driver Nikola Tsolov was stripped of his victory in Austria after being disqualified for breaching technical regulations. The FIA stewards made the post-race announcement, revealing that Tsolov’s Campos car had a plank with wear exceeding the maximum permitted thickness.
Tsolov, who started from pole position in the Austria F3 feature race, put on a stellar performance that seemed to solidify his title hopes. However, his dreams were shattered when it was discovered that the thickness of the plank on his car measured only 3.7 millimeters, below the required 4 millimeters set by the FIA.
The stewards’ verdict stated that the rear plank of Tsolov’s car was in breach of the Technical Regulations, specifically Article 3.2.2. Despite the team’s explanation that the wear was due to racing conditions and potential damage from curbs, the stewards emphasized that it is the team’s responsibility to ensure compliance with regulations at all times during an event.
As a result of the disqualification, Tsolov now sits in third place in the Formula 3 standings, trailing 28 points behind championship leader Rafael Câmara, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. This setback has certainly shaken up the rankings and added a new layer of drama to the ongoing championship battle.
