Following the Austrian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton were each given a suspended €10,000 fine for violating a Formula 1 parc ferme law.
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The top three finishers in Austrian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have retained their positions following a stewards probe. The three however, have each received a suspended fine of €10,000 for violating the perc ferme policy. Two hours following the competition, the three podium finishers were called in for questioning on possible violations of article 12.2.1 I of the International Sporting Code, which deals with parc ferme procedures. The stewards concluded that the physiotherapists for each driver entered parc ferme before they had been weighed, violating the post-race protocol guidelines, and fined each of the three drivers a fine of €10,000, suspended until the end of the 2022 season.
The FIA’s media representative has briefed teams on the post-race protocols that will be followed following the completion of each race this season. In accordance with these protocols, “no one else will be allowed in the allocated area at this time, other than the team mechanics… authorities and FIA pre-authorized media crews and FIA sanctioned photographers.” The post-race protocols have made it clear that no “team PR staff” are allowed in parc ferme as drivers enter after a race ever since the Canadian Grand Prix last month. Teams are now told to “wait outside the cool-down room behind the podium until the podium ceremony has over” for the driver physios.
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Violating the rules
“The Stewards received a report from the Media Delegate, which was subsequently confirmed by video evidence, that the physio / drivers’ assistants of the top three finishers entered Parc Ferme without permission and in violation of the procedure that was published prior to the race ‘for the orderly conduct of the event,'” the incident is described in the FIA bulletin. In part this is to prevent handing over of items to the drivers prior to them being weighed. The Competitor is fined €10,000, which will be suspended for the remainder of the season pending any further violation of the procedure, and the competitors are warned that the passes of the individuals concerned may be revoked in case of systemic violation. The stewards also cleared Fernando Alonso of any wrongdoing over a potential dangerous release violation during the race, making the outcome of the Austrian Grand Prix officially official. The judgement has no bearing on the race’s outcome, in which Leclerc beat Verstappen and Hamilton to his third victory of the 2022 season.
