Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Pierre Gasly and the Alpine Formula 1 team were fined by stewards following an incident during qualifying for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. A component from Gasly’s car detached and rolled into the pit lane fast lane as the car exited the garage.
The incident occurred during the grid-setting session when Gasly’s car was released from the Alpine garage. Video evidence showed that a component from the left-front wheel assembly became detached as the car left the garage and rolled across the fast lane before eventually coming to rest in the inner lane of the pit lane.
An Alpine team representative was summoned by the stewards to explain the situation. During the hearing, the team acknowledged that a preparation error had occurred during the assembly process prior to the car leaving the garage.
“The video evidence showed that, as the car was exiting its garage during the qualifying session, a component from the left-front wheel assembly detached and rolled through the fast lane before coming to rest in the inner lane of the pit lane,” the stewards’ statement read.
“The team representative acknowledged the mistake and apologised for the lapse. He explained that a mechanic had inadvertently failed to correctly secure the component during the preparation of the car, which resulted in the part detaching when the car left the garage.”
Alpine also informed the stewards that the team faced logistical challenges during the Melbourne weekend, with some components not arriving at the circuit in time. As a result, the team was unable to fully carry out its standard preparation procedures for the car.
However, the stewards emphasised that the responsibility to ensure a car is released safely from the garage ultimately lies with the competitor. Because a component detached from the left-front wheel assembly as the car exited the garage, the stewards concluded that the car had been released in an unsafe condition.
After reviewing previous comparable cases during qualifying sessions, the stewards determined that a financial penalty was appropriate and imposed a €5,000 fine on Alpine.
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