FIA Cracks Down with Major Grid Penalties Before Australian Grand

FIA Cracks Down with Major Grid Penalties Before Australian Grand Prix Showdown

The 2025 Formula 1 season is set to kick off this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, with anticipation building for both F1 and its support series, Formula 2 and Formula 3. However, before the racing action even begins, the FIA has handed out multiple grid penalties to three teams in Formula 2 due to technical infringements.

The season opener at Albert Park will feature several F2 graduates making their F1 debuts, including Ollie Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto enters the 2025 season as the reigning F2 champion, but Antonelli has drawn the most attention after securing a seat at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement. His rookie season will be closely watched as he steps into a car capable of fighting for race victories.

While F1 prepares for its highly anticipated first race, the Formula 2 grid is also shaping up, with a new generation of drivers aiming to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. Among them are Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad and last year’s F3 champion, Leonardo Fornaroli, both of whom hope to impress in their debut seasons.

FIA Penalizes Three F2 Teams Before Season Opener

The 2025 Formula 2 season has yet to begin, with the sprint race scheduled for Saturday in Melbourne. However, the FIA has already issued penalties to three teams—DAMS Lucas Oil, Rodin Motorsport, and TRIDENT—following infractions discovered during pre-season testing.

The teams were found to have violated multiple regulations, including Article 10.2a of the sporting regulations, as well as Articles 1.5.2, 8.4.10, and 8.4.11 of the technical regulations. The breaches involved modifications to their cars, specifically the installation of an air pressure sensor in a way that provided an unfair advantage.

Unfair Advantage Through Diffuser Modification

The investigation revealed that the teams had altered their cars by drilling holes into the diffuser to accommodate an air pressure sensor. This modification allowed airflow beneath the car to be directed into the sensor pipeline, potentially providing enhanced aerodynamic data that their competitors did not have access to.

As a result, the FIA has imposed financial and sporting penalties. Each team has been fined €10,000 per car, and both cars from each team will serve a 10-place grid penalty in both the sprint and feature race at Albert Park.

Additional Restrictions for Penalized Teams

In addition to the fines and grid penalties, the FIA has introduced further measures to ensure fairness throughout the season. Rival teams have been given the option to apply for permission to install similar sensors for in-season testing in Bahrain. However, the three penalized teams—DAMS Lucas Oil, Rodin Motorsport, and TRIDENT—will be restricted to just two days of testing as a consequence of their rule violations.

These penalties come as a warning to all teams, emphasizing the FIA’s strict enforcement of technical regulations and its commitment to maintaining a level playing field in Formula 2. As the season gets underway, the penalized teams will have to work harder to recover from their grid position setbacks, while the rest of the field looks to take advantage of the situation.

With both F1 and F2 set to begin their respective seasons, the Australian Grand Prix weekend promises excitement on all fronts. The penalties handed out before the first race serve as a reminder that technical compliance will be closely monitored throughout the year, ensuring fair competition for all teams.