Aston Martin hit with bizarre €25,000 fine for “disappointing fans” at Abu Dhabi GP. Aston Martin receives a rare FIA penalty at the Abu Dhabi GP .

F1 | Aston Martin hit with unusual penalty at Abu Dhabi GP: the details

During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Aston Martin was hit with a peculiar penalty after being accused of “disappointing” fans. Here’s what happened.

The incident occurred when drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were summoned by the stewards for allegedly failing to comply with Article 19.2 C of the sporting regulations, which relates to mandatory participation in events designed for fan engagement.

On Friday evening, both drivers were supposed to attend an official event in the Yas Marina circuit Fan Zone, a requirement for all drivers. Their absence triggered a strict response from the FIA, which initially fined the team €25,000. A reduction was later granted after Aston Martin submitted a proposal to make amends.

The stewards’ report

The stewards’ report states: “The stewards received a report from the Media Delegate indicating that the driver of car 14 (Fernando Alonso) did not participate in the Friday Fan Engagement activity.” The document continues to explain the team and driver’s perspective: “The driver believed that, since he was not required for driving activities during FP1, it would not be necessary to attend the Fan Engagement event and that a reserve driver would participate instead.”

The stewards acknowledged the logistical difficulties faced by the drivers, noting that “the obligation to participate is sometimes inconvenient for the drivers, especially in cases like this where there was a five-hour gap between the Fan Engagement and FP2.” At the same time, they emphasized the importance of fans: “Fans are the heart of Formula 1, and this importance is recognized by the FIA through the inclusion of Article 19 in the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.”

The note submitted to Formula 1 highlighted that “many fans had waited for several hours in the heat to see the drivers at the Fan Engagement activity.” This was the reason behind the penalty.

Aston Martin makes amends

However, the stewards accepted Aston Martin’s proposal to remedy the situation with a fan-focused initiative during the weekend. “The competitor will participate in the Fan Zone this weekend and distribute team-signed caps to all fans wearing Aston Martin apparel. Additionally, two fans will be selected for a garage tour.”