Ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi has been disqualified from third place in the Formula 2 feature race result at Paul Ricard following a tyre pressure infringement.
The MP Motorsport’s driver climbed from 14th on the grid to fourth place in the first third of the 30 lap race. His pace was strong pace in damp conditions.
Merhi then inherited third when Alexander Albon’s DAMS-run car suffered a safety mode glitch leading to his retirement.
However, post-race scrutineering revealed that all four tyres on Merhi’s car were below the minimum allowed pressures. He was therefore disqualified from the result.
Third place in the feature race was Merhi’s second podium in as many rounds. He had climbed to ninth in the championship standings but now drops back to 13th place after losing 15 points.
Campos’s Luca Ghiotto inherits third place in the feature race with all drivers behind Merhi being elevated one place. Ghiotto spun twice during the damp conditions at the start of the race.
Tadasuke Makino, who ultimately lost a late-race battle with Nicholas Latifi and finished ninth as a result, has been promoted to eighth and reverse grid pole.
Arjun Maini has been elevated into the final points scoring position in 10th.
