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FIA Issues Fine to Ferrari After Tyre Pressure Breach Involving Charles Leclerc at Imola Grand Prix
The FIA has released an official verdict regarding a technical infraction involving Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc during the Imola Grand Prix weekend. The incident occurred during Free Practice 1 (FP1) on Friday, prompting an investigation by race stewards.
Following the session, a Ferrari team representative was summoned by the stewards to address concerns over a potential violation of Technical Directive 003Q, specifically point 2.g.ii. According to the directive, Ferrari had adjusted Leclerc’s tyre pressure while the car was stationary in the garage—an action that was not performed in accordance with the mandated procedure outlined in the sporting regulations.
The technical directive states that if a team wishes to modify tyre pressures, they must first obtain tyre temperature data before proceeding with the adjustments. This is crucial to ensure safety and performance consistency. In this case, the Ferrari team admitted that the required procedures had not been followed, constituting a breach of Article 30.5(a) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.
After reviewing technical data provided by the Technical Delegate and hearing from Ferrari’s representative, the FIA stewards concluded that while the infraction did occur, it happened during a non-competitive session (FP1), and therefore, no sporting advantage was gained. Consequently, the stewards opted to impose a financial penalty rather than a sporting one. Ferrari was fined €5,000 for the breach.
The FIA’s official statement read: “The stewards heard from the team representative of Car 16 (Charles Leclerc) and reviewed the technical data supplied by the Technical Delegate. Technical Directive 003G, point 2 g.ii, specifies that a tyre may be used more than once in a single session. It also sets out the procedures that must be followed if the team wishes to make adjustments to the tyres such as reducing tyre pressures. It requires that first, tyre temperatures must be obtained. The team representative admitted that these procedures were not followed, which is a breach of Article 30.5 a) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”
This decision mirrors a previous case earlier in the 2024 Formula 1 season. During the Brazilian Grand Prix, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were involved in a similar situation. Their team made tyre pressure adjustments in the garage after the race start was delayed by 10 minutes. While both drivers avoided any sporting penalties, Mercedes received financial penalties of €5,000 per driver, totaling €10,000 for the team.
The FIA has shown consistency in its approach to such technical infringements, especially when they occur outside of race conditions. By issuing fines instead of applying harsher penalties, the governing body appears to be reinforcing the importance of procedural adherence without heavily impacting the competitive outcome of the events.
Both incidents serve as a reminder to all teams that even minor technical oversights during practice sessions can lead to formal investigations and financial repercussions. Teams are expected to rigorously comply with all technical directives, even during non-race sessions, to ensure fairness, safety, and regulatory integrity in Formula 1.
