US Grand Prix bosses explain missing F1 trophies as massive fine given for track invasion

The post-race process did not spell excessively good for United States Grand Prix organisers arsenic the main operator trophies were absent and hundreds of fans got onto the way portion cars were inactive connected it

United States Grand Prix bosses person been fined £383,500 aft a way penetration saw astir 200 radical participate the Austin circuit portion it was inactive live.

And they person besides explained wherefore Charles Leclerc did not person the expected winner's trophy pursuing his triumph astatine the Circuit of the Americas. While the enactment connected way successful Texas was exciting, the contiguous aftermath of the contention went acold from swimmingly arsenic acold arsenic organisers were concerned.

Most worrying was the information immoderate fans managed to marque their mode onto the way portion immoderate cars were inactive connected their cool-down laps aft the race. The FIA believes astir 200 climbed implicit a obstruction other the pit lane anxious to drawback a bully spot from which to presumption the podium ceremony.

Those fans had to ascent implicit that obstruction and driblet astir 2 metres to the ground, earlier getting implicit different drawback obstruction and a barrier. Still, it was considered to beryllium a superior breach of information rules fixed the way was inactive live.

And truthful the stewards took a dim presumption of what happened. The promoter was summoned to explicate what had happened, and it was determined that the "failure to instrumentality tenable measures" which resulted successful an "unsafe situation" was a breach of the FIA International Sporting Code.

Of the magnitude fined, astir £268,500 is suspended until the extremity of 2026. It volition beryllium payable lone if the Circuit of the Americas sees another, akin breach astatine immoderate motorsport lawsuit successful that timeframe that is sanctioned by the FIA, including the adjacent 2 US Grands Prix.

The contention promoter volition besides person to taxable a program to the FIA which explains however it plans to forestall different specified way penetration successful the future. Such incidents person go much communal successful F1 successful caller times.

Earlier this year, fans managed to get onto the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve portion it was inactive unrecorded aft the Canadian Grand Prix. And a akin incidental happened astatine the Australian Grand Prix successful 2023, which besides saw the promoter fixed a hefty fine.

Meanwhile, a precocious alteration of trophy took spot successful Austin aft Pirelli had hyped up a 'Heroo' plan which ne'er made it onto the podium. Winner Leclerc was alternatively handed a tube-shaped gong for his victory, arsenic were Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen.

Pirelli told Motorsport.com that they had go alert that the trophy was precise akin to different designs and truthful decided to propulsion them from use. The replacements were flown successful from elsewhere successful the US astatine the past minute.