Formula 3: Nicola Lacorte penalised following Melbourne Feature Race

Nicola Lacorte's Melbourne Feature Race nightmare deepened further following the race conclusion, when the FIA Formula 3 Stewards handed down an additional 10-second time penalty for a technical regulation breach. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver, who was already dealing with multiple incidents during the 23-lap encounter at Albert Park, had his final classification adjusted downward from P19 to P25 due to the penalty.

A race marred by chaos and collisions

Lacorte's afternoon at the Albert Park circuit had already been tumultuous even before the post-race penalty was applied. During the feature race, the DAMS driver encountered multiple difficulties that exemplified his challenging spell in the series. He struggled notably during the formation lap, with hesitation while launching from his grid slot that briefly disrupted the field behind him.

Compounding an already difficult season

This Melbourne penalty arrives as part of a broader pattern of disciplinary troubles for the Italian junior. Just weeks prior, Lacorte had endured a catastrophic period at the Monaco and Spain rounds, accumulating 18 penalty points in a single week—a staggering tally that triggered an automatic event ban for the Red Bull Ring round in Austria. That unprecedented accumulation resulted from violations including ignoring a black flag, multiple collision penalties, and speeding under safety car conditions.

The Melbourne technical breach underscores the mounting pressure facing the Alpine F1 Academy junior. Whether it represents a mechanical oversight, communication breakdown with his team, or procedural confusion, the penalty highlights growing consistency issues that have plagued his campaign.