Alesi and Kari penalised following GP3 qualifying

Trident’s Giuliano Alesi and Red Bull junior Niko Kari have been penalised following transgressions in the first GP3 qualifying session of the year.

Alesi blocked Campos Racing’s Julien Falchero between Turn 9 and 10, with excessive weaving in a bid to warm his tyres and brakes.

A late effort saw Alesi rise to seventh in the standings, but the stewards have handed him a three-place grid penalty, meaning he will start from 10th tomorrow.

Arden’s Niko Kari qualified 11th in his second ever GP3 qualifying session. However, he failed to stop for the weigh bridge when required and he will start the Saturday evening’s race from the pitlane.

Consequently, Alessio Lorandi will start directly behind his Jenzer Motorsport team-mate in seventh place ahead of Marcos Siebert, Anthoine Hubert and the demoted Alesi.