Mercedes was fined by FIA for their drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, entering parc ferme during the podium ceremony at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix, in Barcelona on Sunday.
A pair of English drivers in the closed park area that is created in the pit lane at the end of the test led to the entity’s officials fining the German team €10,000.
“The stewards received a report from the Media Delegate, which was subsequently confirmed by video evidence, that the physios/drivers’ assistants of Cars 44 and 63 entered parc ferme in violation of the Post Race Interview and Podium Ceremony Procedure that was published prior to the race ‘for the orderly conduct of the event.’” read the statement.
“Article 9.15.1 of the FIA International Sporting Code places the responsibility for the actions on the part of any person providing a service, on the Competitor to whom the service is provided.” FIA added.
Despite the financial penalty, nothing was done in terms of sport, making sure Toto Wolff-led team’s double podium finish.
The Silver Arrows had an excellent run in Barcelona on Sunday. Max Verstappen took the win, but Hamilton was comfortably second in the race, with Russell also showing excellent pace to complete the team’s first double podium of the year.
The Brits were all smiles as they took to the podium to have their trophy for their hard work. But they will have been worried to learn that their team will soon be investigated by the stewards over post-race proceedings.
Fortunately for the two drivers it is very likely that their place on the podium will not be threatened. A similar breach of the rules was seen at last year’s Austrian Grand Prix, following which the teams involved faced suspended fines.
