Audi was handed a 7,500 euro fine during the opening free practice session following a pit lane oversight that compromised Freddie Slater and triggered strict intervention from the stewards. The penalty was issued after the team released the young driver onto the track at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez while a cooling fan was still physically attached to the right-hand sidepod of his R26 machine.
The procedural error forced the team into an immediate realization of their mistake, prompting frantic radio instructions for the British driver to abort his run and limp back to the garage. However, the oversight had already taken a toll on the vehicle's mechanics, causing the power unit to overheat and seemingly shutting down his running after only half an hour without completing any push laps.
The stewards reviewed the incident with strict scrutiny before handing down the financial penalty to the outfit. Fortunately for the teenager, the engineering crew managed to cool the car down adequately, allowing him to venture back onto the asphalt with only a few minutes remaining on the clock in the opening practice hour.
Despite the severe setback during his maiden official outing, the 18-year-old managed to squeeze in a handful of timed laps before the checkered flag dropped. He ultimately classified in 21st position on the timesheets, outpacing Cadillac rival Colton Herta, and is slated to participate in FP1 once again during the upcoming weekend in Brazil.
According to the official FIA decision document, the stewards noted, "Although the fan did not fall off the car, there was the possibility it could have. Accordingly, a penalty similar to that applied in Australia was applied, which resulted in the amount being mitigated down to the decided figure."
Read Also
Lewis Hamilton wujudkan mimpi masa kecil ikuti jejak Michael Schumacher usai rebut pole bersama Ferrari di Meksiko. Baca analisis mendalam di sini.
Kimi Antonelli hadapi demam dan tekanan gelar juara F1 Meksiko dari posisi start keempat. Baca analisis mendalam dan strategi pemulihannya di sini!
Lando Norris pasrah start keenam di GP Meksiko usai gagal atasi masalah kecepatan mobil McLaren. Simak analisis mendalam selengkapnya di sini.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!