F1 NEWS:FIA Fines Haas After ‘Dangerous’ Practice Incident at M…read more
F1 NEWS:FIA Fines Haas After ‘Dangerous’ Practice Incident at M…read more
During the first and only practice session of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend, Formula 1 stewards intervened following what was described as a “dangerous” on-track incident. The issue arose on Friday afternoon as teams took to the Miami International Autodrome for a crucial hour of preparation ahead of the sprint-format weekend—only the second such event of the season.
With just one practice session available, all ten teams were eager to gather as much performance data as possible. However, their plans were abruptly interrupted when Haas rookie Ollie Bearman suffered a crash that prematurely ended FP1. Fortunately, the 19-year-old emerged unscathed.
The session-ending incident wasn’t the only concern for the American-based Haas team. Later in the day, the FIA stewards opened an investigation into a separate event involving Esteban Ocon, Bearman’s teammate. During the session, Ocon was found to have impeded McLaren’s Lando Norris, forcing the British driver to take evasive action to avoid a potential collision as he encountered the slow-moving Haas car on the racing line.
Following a thorough review that included team radio, video footage, and discussions with both drivers and team representatives, the FIA concluded that Ocon had not been properly warned about Norris approaching at high speed. According to the stewards’ report, Ocon was receiving technical instructions from the pit wall and was only informed of Norris’s rapid approach at the last moment. The Haas representative admitted the team’s failure to provide timely communication.
Despite these mitigating factors, the stewards criticized Ocon for making a late move off the racing line, which increased the risk of an accident. Although the impeding had already occurred by that point, the delayed maneuver was considered a contributing factor to the overall danger of the situation. As a result, Ocon received an official warning.
Ultimately, the FIA placed the majority of the blame on the Haas team and issued a financial penalty of €7,500. The decision reflects a pattern of similar past infractions and reinforces the FIA’s continued emphasis on safety and proper team-driver communication in high-speed environments.
