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De Palo and Wharton penalised after FIA Formula 3 Spa Sprint Race
Matteo De Palo and James Wharton receive post-race penalties after the FIA Formula 3 Spa Sprint, dropping to P28 and P27 respectively.
Two post-race penalties alter the Spa classification
Matteo De Palo and James Wharton have received post-race penalties following the FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race at Spa-Francorchamps, reshaping the final classification after the chequered flag.
The decision follows a race that also saw Jin Nakamura claim his maiden Formula 3 victory at the Belgian circuit. De Palo’s penalties were linked to two separate incidents, while Wharton was sanctioned for repeated track-limit breaches.
De Palo receives two 10-second penalties
The first penalty involving De Palo came from his battle with Car 31 of Gerrard Xie. After reviewing video evidence, the Stewards determined that Car 6 had forced Xie off the circuit at Turn 5. The incident was found to breach Article 2(b) of Chapter IV, Appendix L of the 2026 FIA International Sporting Code.
The Stewards applied the standard 10-second time penalty for the infringement.
De Palo was then penalised for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage while defending against Car 28 of Fernando Barrichello. The TRIDENT driver ran across the circuit at Turn 5 and rejoined after Turn 6 ahead of Barrichello, retaining his position.
Following a further review of the available video evidence, the Stewards concluded that Car 6 had left the circuit and rejoined ahead of Car 28 without giving the position back. That breached Article 27.3 of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Sporting Regulations, resulting in another standard 10-second penalty.
With both penalties applied, De Palo moves to P28 in the final Sprint Race classification.
Wharton sanctioned for track limits
James Wharton was also referred to the Stewards after several alleged track-limit breaches during the Sprint. The PREMA Racing driver was found to have gone beyond the white lines seven times, in breach of Article 27.3 of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Sporting Regulations.
The Stewards imposed four separate five-second time penalties under Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 5 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.
As a result, Wharton is classified P27. The outcome underlines how incidents away from the immediate fight for victory can continue to influence the order long after the race has finished. For more on the weekend’s Formula 3 action, read Jin Nakamura’s maiden Spa Sprint victory.