Alpine was fined US$ 5,5 thousand after an incident during the qualifying session for the Formula 1 Australian GP. The episode occurred while Pierre Gasly was leaving his garage during the grid definition session, when a component from the front left wheel came loose and rolled through the pit lane, entering the fast lane before stopping in the inner lane.
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An Alpine representative was called by the stewards to explain the situation. According to the team, a mechanic failed to correctly fix the part during car preparation, which resulted in it coming loose when leaving the garage. The team also highlighted that it faced logistical difficulties, as not all parts had arrived in Melbourne on time, compromising normal preparation procedures.
In their decision, the stewards emphasized that, while they recognize the logistical challenges faced by the team, the responsibility for the safe release of the car lies with the team itself: “As a component detached from the front left wheel when the car left the garage, the stewards determined that the car was released in an unsafe condition,” a statement says.
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The financial penalty follows precedents for similar infractions in previous qualifying sessions and was considered appropriate for the incident.
With the fine, Alpine must adjust its procedures to ensure that similar safety issues do not occur in the next stages of the season, maintaining the integrity of the drivers and the pit lane operation.
