Force India F1 team fined for Perez's wheel falling off in practice
The Force India Formula 1 team has been fined after Sergio Perez lost a wheel during practice for the French Grand Prix
A €15,000 fine, and additional €85,000 penalty that is suspended for 12 months, was dished out by FIA stewards following a Saturday morning investigation into the incident that occurred in Friday's second practice session.
Perez lost his left-rear wheel at high speed in FP2 with the wheelnut and its retention device still attached to the wheel.
The FIA's initial analysis suggested some form of debris might have caused the wheel to not be properly located on the hub, while team chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer suggested it could have been a retaining bolt problem.
FIA stewards Garry Connelly, Enzo Spano, Yannick Dalmas and Jean-Marie Krempff reviewed video evidence and spoke to FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer, Sergio Perez, Force India team manager Andy Stevenson and the wheelgun operator.
Their report said the high-speed nature of the incident made it "very serious and potentially dangerous", and claimed Bauer revised his original report.
Bauer instead confirmed Szafnauer's original theory, with the stewards noting that "the problem was not caused by incorrect or incomplete fitment of the wheel but rather by an assembly fault involving poor seating of three retaining screws on the retaining plate".
The stewards said there was no error from the wheelgun operator in fitting the wheel or checking its security.
They said it would be "unreasonable" to suggest the appropriate action to stop the car was not taken, because the team and driver had no warning of a problem before the wheel detached.
It continued: "Accordingly and consistent with previous decisions this year, the stewards decided that the grid place penalty that 'may' be imposed under the above article, would not be applied.
"However, it is noted that this is the third incident of this nature involving the team in the
past two years and the second this year, and hence the usual penalty has been significantly increased.
"This fine represents the view of the stewards that the team needs to investigate its assembly and quality control procedures to ensure this type of potentially dangerous incident does not occur again, and believes the penalty is suitable and will also act as a deterrent in the future."
French Grand Prix FP3: Bottas fastest in rain-hit session
Romain Grosjean's latest F1 engine sent to Ferrari for checks
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix