Lance Stroll Faces Bizarre FIA Penalty After Aston Martin G...read more

Lance Stroll Under Investigation After Unusual FIA Breach at Spanish GP Qualifying

Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll is at the center of an unusual FIA investigation following a procedural misstep during qualifying for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The Canadian driver, who ended Saturday’s session in P14 after being knocked out in Q2, is facing a possible penalty for failing to follow post-qualifying protocols.

According to the FIA regulations, any driver eliminated in Q1 or Q2 must immediately head to the FIA scales through the pit lane upon returning to the garage. However, Stroll reportedly remained in the Aston Martin garage for five minutes before proceeding to the scales—without using the pit-lane route, as required.

An official statement from the FIA confirmed the infraction:

> “After the second Qualifying session, the driver Lance Stroll, car number 18, did not follow the post-Qualifying drivers’ weighing procedure as laid out in the Race Director’s Event Notes, item 13. Firstly, the driver stayed 5 minutes in the team’s garage before proceeding to the scales and secondly, he did not proceed through the pit-lane.”

The stewards have taken up the matter and are expected to announce a decision later today. Under Article 35 of the Sporting Regulations, penalties for such violations can range from a grid drop to disqualification from the sprint session or the race itself.

If penalized, Stroll’s current starting position of P14 for Sunday’s race could be affected—adding another twist to a dramatic qualifying day that already saw Red Bull’s dominance challenged and fresh controversy brewing in the paddock.