Audi fined €12,500 for two separate misdemeanours.

In FP1, Freddie Slater was sent out with a cooling fan still attached to the intake of his right radiator.

A team representative explained to the stewards that on noticing that the cooling fan was still attached, he checked with his engineers to ascertain if it was safe to continue the lap and was advised that it was.

The team instructed Slater to pit, and it was confirmed the driver was unaware of the issue.

Although the fan did not fall off the car (as was the case with Kimi Antonelli in Australia this year) there was the possibility it could have. Accordingly a penalty similar to that applied to Mercedes in Australia, was applied, this being €7,500.

In FP2, Gabriel Bortoleto's floor was transported by team personnel from one side of the garage to the other whilst covered by a large sheet. In addition, team personnel obstructed the view the car using another sheet while mechanics were working underneath.

The team representative recognised the breach and explained that the principal reason for the infringement was the particular configuration of the garages allocated to the team at this event. The two garages used by the German team are separated by a garage occupied by other personnel. As a result, the floor had to be transported through an area visible to third parties, which led the team to cover
it while moving it between its two garages.

While the stewards acknowledged the particular circumstances explained by the team, these did not constitute an exception to the requirements of Article B3.3.1. of the Sporting Regulations.

Furthermore, team personnel also obstructed the view of the car using another sheet while mechanics were working underneath the car. The stewards therefore determined that Audi was in breach of Article B3.3.1 and consequently imposed a fine of €5,000.

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