Mercedes have been fined a total of €10,000 (£8,388) for the violations of the tyre pressure rules on their cars during today’s race.
The tyre pressures on Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s cars were adjusted after the wheels had been fitted to the cars, which violates technical directive 003. The situation occured after the original start of the race was abandoned, following which further confusion was caused by drivers completing an extra formation lap, which is the subject of another investigation by the stewards.
The stewards noted that a team would ordinarily be given a sporting penalty for a breach of this type. However they accepted an unusual combination of circumstances including the aborted start and the position of the access points onto the grid made it potentially impossible for teams to follow the technical directive. They also noted the tyre pressures set by the team were within legal limits.
“After the race start was aborted the 10 minute notice was immediately given for the new start,” the stewards explained. “Given the layout of the circuit and the access point to the grid from the pit lane the time period for the team to get to the grid was extended. The gate to access the grid was not immediately opened. The FIA accepted that given this short notice it was extremely difficult if not impossible for the teams to follow the procedure prescribed in the technical directive.
“The FIA technical delegate stipulated that the tyre pressures while having been adjusted by the team was within the allowed parameters.
“Given the unusual circumstances surrounding the compressed time table, aborted start, the grid access logistics and given the stipulation from the technical delegate that the tyre pressures were within the correct parameters, the stewards determine that a fine for a breach of procedure is appropriate in this case. Normally a breach of this nature, within a competitive session would carry a sporting penalty but it is not appropriate in this case.”
The stewards added this should be a seen as a one-off case: “This decision should not be considered as a precedent for any similar breach in the future as the circumstances are considered unique.”
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2024 Brazilian Grand Prix
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