Breaking:FIA confirm official curfew breach for McLaren F1 team at Bahrain Grand Prix over…read more
FIA confirm official curfew breach for McLaren F1 team at Bahrain Grand Prix over…read more
The FIA has officially confirmed that McLaren Formula 1 team breached curfew regulations ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which marked the opening race weekend of the season. The violation occurred on the Thursday night before the first free practice session, when McLaren team members involved in the operation of the car were present within the Bahrain International Circuit during a period designated as off-limits by the FIA.
According to the governing body, this constitutes a breach of curfew rules outlined in the FIA Sporting Regulations. Specifically, Article 23.1 of the regulations dictates that no more than 58 personnel related to the car’s operation are allowed to be present at the track during restricted hours, which start 29 hours before the opening practice session and last until two hours after the race begins.
Furthermore, Article 23.5(a) reinforces this rule by stating that any personnel linked to the cars’ operation are not permitted inside the circuit during designated curfew periods. The McLaren personnel in question were present during the second restricted period, which begins 18 hours prior to Free Practice 1 (FP1) and ends four hours before the session starts. During these curfew hours, operational activity is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, work on the cars themselves, work on components essential to their functioning, and engineering tasks performed on computers.
Although the incident technically violated the curfew regulations, the FIA opted not to issue a penalty. This is because each team is allowed up to three exceptions to curfew violations throughout the season. McLaren’s breach was their first, meaning it falls within the permitted limit. Only upon exceeding the three allowed exceptions would the team risk sanctions or penalties.
The FIA clarified that the breach was related specifically to operational activities and not to non-restricted roles. Personnel whose duties involve catering, media, marketing, or logistics (such as loading and unloading freight) are exempt from curfew limitations, as long as they do not engage in packing or unpacking activities. The individuals found to be in violation were reportedly involved in tasks clearly associated with the technical and operational handling of the car, which directly conflicts with the purpose of the curfew – to give team staff adequate rest and prevent around-the-clock work schedules.
While this incident will not carry disciplinary consequences for McLaren due to the exception rule, it serves as a reminder to all F1 teams to adhere closely to the strict time regulations imposed by the FIA. These curfew periods are designed not only to maintain fairness but also to safeguard the health and performance of team personnel across the grueling F1 calendar. With two more exceptions left for the season, McLaren will need to manage their operations carefully to avoid potential repercussions in
the future.
