The Mercedes team has been fined ten thousand euros by the FIA for adjusting the tyre pressure at the restart of the São Paulo GP. After Lance Stroll’s retirement during the formation lap, the race direction postponed the start by ten minutes. The mechanics — including those from Mercedes — rushed back onto the track to prepare the cars, legally or otherwise.
After all the chaos in the formation lap, the FIA allowed the teams to prepare the cars for a new start procedure. This resulted in hectic scenes! Mechanics hastily dragged the necessary equipment to the grid to optimally prepare the cars for a restart. Mercedes also adjusted the tyre pressure, which resulted in a fine of ten thousand euros for the team.
‘A Monetary Fine is Appropriate in this Case’
“After the first start was aborted, the teams knew that the race would be delayed by ten minutes,” the stewards explained later. “Given the layout of the circuit and the access point to the grid, the teams were allowed to re-enter the track. The FIA accepts that it was difficult, if not impossible, to follow the correct procedures during this period.” Mercedes adjusted the tyre pressure of both cars, although it remained within the permitted parameters.
“Given the unusual circumstances surrounding the schedule, the aborted start, and the fact that the tyre pressures remained within the correct parameters, the stewards believe that a monetary fine is appropriate in this case,” the verdict reads. “Normally, such a violation would result in a sporting penalty, but that is not appropriate in this case.
