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Williams has been fined €25,000 after releasing Lance Stroll from the pit box unsafely after performing a pitstop. During the race, replays showed a mechanic falling over after Stroll received the green light and was sent on his way.
The mechanic was unhurt, however earlier this year Ferrari was fined €50,000 after Kimi Raikkonen was released unsafely. A mechanic suffered major injuries to his left leg in that incident, after it was in front of Raikkonen's rear wheel when he pulled away.
While there were no injuries involved this time around, the stewards stated that it had no choice but to take action against the Grove-based squad: "The team released the car in a manner endangering team personnel,” a ruling from the stewards read.
“The stewards determined that the entire pit stop sequence was complete and that the mechanic being struck was as a result of a minor mis-coordination at the conclusion of the pit stop sequence.
"Nevertheless, while the contact did not result in injury, the Stewards found that it is the obligation of the team to ensure that all personnel are clear of the car before it is released," the report continued.
“In determining the penalty, the stewards reviewed the incident in Bahrain 2018. In that case the sequence on the left rear tyre was significantly delayed and not at all completed prior to the car being released, resulting in serious injury to a team member.”
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (1)
Login to replyNorbert
Posts: 108
Such a big fine. Lunch for the crew for a whole season. I can understand the Ferrari fine as that was about the hospital bill the man would have received in the United States, but this fine seems a bit excessive. Wasn’t it a $100 000 000 fine issued to McLaren which put an end to that once noble team? It was more than punishment. I couldn’t help but see it as a vindictive move by Max Mosley’s clan against Ron Dennis for bringing in such a competitive and somewhat “black” man. Now aren’t McLaren owned by the king of Bahrain who only has a passing interest related to his extensive car collection? I felt gutted for HAAS even. Getting a whole team and car to another country for a race is so expensive. It’s like if Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi was DSQ from every match at Wimbledon for a single foot fault.