Pierre Gasly avoided the ignominy of becoming the first Formula 1 driver to ever pick up enough penalty points on their licence for a race ban.
But the threat still looms with the Frenchman on 10 points, all of which carried over from last season. If a driver reaches 12 within a period of as many months, then the rules dictate that they must serve a one-race ban. No F1 racer has ever triggered this sanction.
But there were worries that Gasly might do so after his crash with team-mate Esteban Ocon towards the end of the Australian Grand Prix. Both Alpine cars were on course for points in the final few laps of the race and all they had to do was to get through a late restart unscathed.
But that did not happen as Gasly and Ocon were two of no fewer than five drivers involved in incidents at the same time in the first few corners. Carlos Sainz tagged the back wheel of Fernando Alonso, and received a five-second time penalty. Further back Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries collided and both ended up beached in the gravel.
And the Alpines both slammed into the wall as they made contact. After the conclusion of the race, the FIA confirmed that both Gasly and Ocon had been called to the stewards' office to explain themselves.
After hearing their versions of events, it was decided no further action would be taken.
An FIA document read: "The stewards heard from the driver of Car 10 (Pierre Gasly), the driver of Car 21 (Esteban Ocon), a team representative and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence and determined that it was a first lap racing incident.
"Both cars recognised and accepted this as such. In the circumstances, we took no further action.
"Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits."
