The first rule of motor racing is “don’t crash into your teammate”.
So naturally, when incidents do occur, tensions run high and a few harsh words can be exchanged.
But when British Formula 4 drivers Devlin Defrancesco and Petru Florescu tangled and crashed out during Sunday’s race at Knockhill in Scotland, the confrontation was more than just verbal.
The two Carlin drivers entered the weekend first and third in the championship, with series leader Florescu winning the opening race of the round.
However, tensions flared after the pair tangled and crashed out when battling for fourth place in the second leg of the weekend with two laps remaining.
This just happened! @BritishF4 @CarlinRacing team mates fall out in spectacular fashion after crash at Knockhill!#F4 pic.twitter.com/RhBTB02d6I
— Peter Laborne ✪ 📸 (@LAP_Racing) August 14, 2016
Florescu, the aggressor, was excluded from the entire meeting as a result of his actions, while Canadian-Italian Defrancesco was handed a 10-place grid drop for the third race later in the day. He went on to finish ninth.
RACE 2 BREAKING NEWS: Florescu excluded from meeting following altercation. DeFrancesco handed 10 place grid penalty following contact.
— ROKiT British F4 (@BritishF4) August 14, 2016
As a result, Florescu has dropped all the way back to sixth in the standings, while Defrancesco sits third. The new leader is British youngster Max Fewtrell - teammate to Florescu and Defrancesco - with Red Bull-backed junior Luis Leeds sitting P2.
The British F4 series is one of a number of F4 championships that are seen as an entry-level to single-seater racing after go-karts.