Both Red Bull drivers, along with both Force India’s and Valtteri Bottas, have kept their grid places for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The five men were under investigation by the stewards after failing to be within 107% of the fastest time in a chaotic Q1 in qualifying.
With atrocious track conditions and four stoppages in the 18-minute segment, no fewer than 11 drivers were outside the limit after both Mercedes had posted dramatically faster laps on their run before the final red flag.
Usually, under the regulations, those drivers who fail to make the 107% cut-off have to apply to the stewards for permission to take part in the race.
The result of that is either a simple yes or no and drivers lining up in order of times from the final practice session should more than one car involved.
Due to what the FIA later agreed were ‘exceptional circumstances’, the five drivers mentioned all fell below that time but would participate in Q2 with four making the top ten.
However, because the 107% ruling applied only to the times set in Q1, those set in the final two segments would not have considered in the stewards decision.
As a result, Red Bull were the highest profile potential victims with both Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen facing a significant demotion from the third and fourth places they had achieved.
Indeed under the rules, Verstappen would have started 12th with his teammate alongside him in 13th after the Dutchman beat the Australian in final practice but now nothing has changed with Ricciardo starting in front on the second row.
The two Force India’s of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez also maintain their grid positions in ninth and thirteenth while Valtteri Bottas will start from tenth.
There was also no change to those drivers who failed to make Q2 with Jolyon Palmer ahead of Felipe Massa, who crashed on intermediates.
Kevin Magnussen will be alongside Marcus Ericsson, who also crashed, while the two Manors of Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto bring up the grid.
