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Motorsport

Lance Stroll handed US GP penalty after Esteban Ocon sprint race crash

Esteban Ocon Lance Stroll Fernando Alonso Lando Norris Oscar Piastri Aston Martin Haas McLaren the United States Grand Prix Turn 1

Lance Stroll has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the United States Grand Prix for crashing into Haas driver Esteban Ocon during the sprint race at the Circuit of The Americas.

Ocon and Stroll crashed out of the United States Grand Prix sprint race after starting from 16th and 14th on the grid, respectively.

In the closing laps of the sprint race, Aston Martin's Stroll locked up at Turn 1 as he went for a lunge up the inside of the Haas driver. With both cars stopping on the track, the safety car was brought out for the second time during the race.

This comes after a dramatic race start with both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, crashing out at Turn 1, with Fernando Alonso getting caught up in the chaos and also retiring. This meant the sprint race ended with a double DNF for both McLaren and Aston Martin.

LAP 16/19

:large_yellow_circle: SAFETY CAR :large_yellow_circle:

Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon collide at Turn 1 - both drivers are out of the race :scream:#F1Sprint #USGP pic.twitter.com/PUWBXFAX6X
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 18, 2025

The stewards later reviewed the incident and handed Stroll a five-place grid penalty and two penalty points on his superlicence.

"The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 18 (Lance Stroll), the driver of Car 31 (Esteban Ocon), team representatives and reviewed video and in-car video evidence," the statement read.

"Car 18 attempted an inside overtake on Car 31 into Turn 1 but misjudged the braking point and collided with Car 31. The Stewards determine that the driver of Car 18 is wholly at fault and apply a penalty equalling a 10 seconds time penalty is imposed."

After a tangle at Turn 1, Lance’s Sprint Race also comes to an early end. #USGP
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) October 18, 2025

The sprint race ended under safety car conditions with four-time champion Max Verstappen taking the victory, followed by Mercedes' George Russell and Williams's Carlos Sainz in second and third.

Stroll currently sits 13th in the drivers' standings with 32 points and Ocon sits 15th with 28 points.