McLaren has been hit with a €10,000 fine by the FIA due to an unsafe release of driver Oscar Piastri during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix .
The incident occurred when Piastri was released into the pit lane, directly into the path of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who had to swerve to avoid a collision.
Despite the mishap, McLaren had a strong performance leading up to the race, with Lando Norris securing pole position and Piastri close behind in second. Fortunately for Piastri, he did not receive a time penalty that would have affected his starting position.
The FIA's investigation revealed that a team mechanic misjudged the situation, prompting the fine.
The steward's verdict stated:
"The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 81 (Oscar Piastri), the driver of Car 1 (Max Verstappen), team representatives and reviewed video and in-car video evidence.
"The driver of Car 81 stated that whilst leaving the pit garage he checked as best he could, for cars coming down pit lane but noted that visibility from the cockpit is severely limited due to the angle of the car.
"He stated he therefore needed to rely on the signal from his mechanic, and when he was given the signal to leave, he pulled into the fast lane. He did not see Car 1 until it appeared in his mirrors when he was in the fast lane.
"The McLaren team representative admitted that the mechanic had misjudged the situation and that the error belonged to the Team.
"The driver of Car 1 stated that he saw the mechanic waving out Car 81 and thought that this was a “very optimistic” move.
"The Red Bull representative stressed that the mechanic should be focussing on the movement of cars in the pit lane and the Stewards noted from the pit lane CCTV video that in this case the focus appeared to be more on Car 81 than cars in pit lane.
"Having noted precedents for this type of breach, the Stewards are of the view that this breach warrants a more severe penalty than previously applied hence the penalty above is imposed.
"Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.
"Decisions of the Stewards are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines and evidence presented."
Piastri noted that he couldn’t see Verstappen approaching because of the car's angle and relied on the mechanic's signal to exit the garage.
The stewards determined that the team had violated Article 34.14 a) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, which led to the penalty.
The incident highlights the importance of safety protocols in Formula 1, as teams must remain vigilant about the movements of cars in the pit lane. McLaren's error serves as a reminder of the potential dangers involved in high-speed racing.
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