F1 driver disqualified from Dutch Grand Prix over 'illegal' car

A Formula One driver has been disqualified from Dutch Grand Prix qualifying after stewards investigated his 'illegal' car.

After a nearly one month long summer break, Formula One returned this weekend as the Dutch Grand Prix is set to get underway in Zandvoort tomorrow afternoon.

McLaren's Lando Norris will start the race in pole position having completed the fastest lap in qualifying on Saturday, with Max Verstappen in second and Oscar Piastri in third.

But one driver has now lost the impressive spot he earned in qualification due to driving an 'illegal' car.

A statement from Formula One confirmed that Alex Albon has been disqualified after the FIA found that the floor on the car used in qualification was illegal.

The FIA have referred their findings to race stewards, who summoned Albon and a Williams team representative to a meeting.

In the FIA assessment given to the stewards, technical delegate Jo Bauer said: "After the qualifying session the aerodynamic component and bodywork areas were checked on car number 23.

“The floor body was found to lie outside the regulatory volume mentioned in Article 3.5.1 a)."

This legislation states that the floor and floor body of a Formula One car must lie within the regulatory volume floor-body.

The disqualification means that the Williams driver will miss out on the highly impressive eighth place he earned in Saturday's qualification session, and instead start the race at the back of the pack.

His performance in qualifying meant that he would have started the race ahead of several notable drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz Jr.

Williams driver Alex Albon is facing disqualification having qualified in eighth for the Dutch Grand Prix. (Image: Getty)

"Unfortunately, Alex has been disqualified from Qualifying today due to his floor body being outside the regulatory volume set by the FIA. We are incredibly disappointed with this outcome and will be carrying out a thorough investigation and will provide an update soon," Williams said after the decision was released.

Albon's disqualification marks the second time in consecutive races that a car's legality has impacted a driver's race.

Last month at the Belgian Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell had his race win wiped out following the race after it was found that his car was too light.

Instead, teammate Hamilton was handed his second victory in three races having also won at Silverstone three weeks prior.