F1 News: Kevin Magnussen Handed Penalty Following Belgian GP Qualifying Blunder

Kevin Magnussen has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix after impeding Charles Leclerc during the qualifying session later today. 

The Danish driver had put in the thirteenth fastest lap but will start from sixteenth on Sunday following the penalty. 

The official letter from the Stewards explained:

"Magnussen left the track at Turn 9 and made contact with the wall. He then rejoined and drove the dry line. Leclerc, who was on a fast lap, caught Magnussen who did not give way until Turn 16. Magnussen explained that he did not feel it was safe to move off onto the wet at speed and give room to Leclerc, particularly in the turns between 11 and 15. The Stewards observed that he did not receive a waring from his team and Leclerc was behind until Leclerc was right behind him at Turn 10. The team also told him to push, as he needed to make it to the line to get another lap. 

"Whether it was his failure to slow and yield following his accident, or whether it was the team's failure to give information early enough that he could have pulled off earlier, or whether it was the instruction to push through the lap; in any case the Stewards determine that he unnecessarily impeded Leclerc."

Despite the move, Leclerc managed to put in the second-fastest time in qualifying which leaves him taking pole position as Max Verstappen has taken a five-place grid penalty for exceeding the number of gearboxes permitted per season.