Merhi triggers crash at finish line of Formula Renault 3.5 race

Roberto Merhi, who races for the Manor Marussia team in Formula One, has been banned for the next two Formula Renault 3.5 races after coming to a virtual stop after crossing the finish line in Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.

The Spaniard had crossed the line in fourth place and would’ve fallen further back due to a 10-second time penalty for abusing the track limits earlier in the race. He drastically reduced his speed after the finish line, reporting on Twitter that he was trying to get the car stopped due to suspension damage:

Merhi was then subsequently run into by Nicholas Latifi, whose car then rolled over. Fortunately, both drivers were able to walk away OK, but the race organizers did not look kindly on the incident. They excluded Merhi from the results and placed the ban on him, meaning that the 24-year-old will have to sit out the next two races.