The Stewards have disqualified Hiyu Yamakoshi from the 2026 Budapest F3 Qualifying results after Van Amersfoort Racing worked on his car following the end-of-race signal.
Officials deleted every lap time recorded by Car 14 after determining that the team had breached the FIA Formula 3 Sporting Regulations and the FIA International Sporting Code.
Yamakoshi originally qualified P30 at the Hungaroring. However, the Stewards have granted the Japanese driver permission to start both the Sprint and Feature Races from the back of the grid.
Engine issue prompts post-session work
Officials referred Yamakoshi to the Stewards over an alleged breach of Article 44.3 of the FIA Formula 3 Sporting Regulations and Article 2.5.1 of the FIA International Sporting Code.
Van Amersfoort Racing had encountered an engine issue on Yamakoshi’s car during Qualifying. The team then carried out work on the car after race control had issued the end-of-race signal.
The regulations restrict teams from working on cars after that signal without the required authorisation. Therefore, the Stewards investigated whether Van Amersfoort Racing’s actions breached the relevant articles.
The Stewards examined video evidence before hearing from Yamakoshi and a Van Amersfoort Racing representative. They established that the team had worked on the car following the end-of-race signal. Although the Stewards found that Van Amersfoort Racing had not sought or gained a sporting advantage, they determined that the team had still breached both regulations.
As a result, they removed Yamakoshi from the Qualifying classification and deleted all his recorded lap times.
Disqualification creates no practical grid loss for Yamakoshi after disappointing 2026 Budapest F3 Qualifying
Yamakoshi had already finished Qualifying in P30 before the Stewards imposed the sanction. Therefore, the disqualification does not move him behind another driver on either grid. Instead, he will retain a place at the rear after receiving permission to start both races.
The penalty still removes his Qualifying result from the official classification and leaves him without a valid lap time from the session.
Yamakoshi faces recovery challenge at Hungaroring
Starting from the back will leave Yamakoshi with a difficult task at a circuit that traditionally limits overtaking opportunities.
The Van Amersfoort Racing driver must first contest the reverse-grid Sprint Race before returning for Sunday’s Feature Race. Although the Stewards found no sporting advantage from the team’s actions, the regulatory breach ensures that he will begin both contests from the final row.
Yamakoshi and Van Amersfoort Racing must now shift their attention towards recovering positions and maximising any points opportunities across the remainder of the Budapest weekend.
Final results from 2026 Budapest F3 Qualifying
