Alpine slapped with F1 punishment after pit lane mishap
The Alpine F1 team received a €5,000 fine due to a safety error during qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix. During the grid-setting session, a component from Pierre Gasly’s car rolled into the fast lane when he was released from his garage. The stewards reviewed video evidence and found that the team had inadvertently failed to secure the component properly, leading to its detachment. Despite logistical challenges faced by the team, the responsibility for ensuring car safety upon exit from the garage lies with the competitor. The stewards deemed the release of the car in an unsafe condition warranted the fine, based on similar past penalties for comparable incidents during qualifying sessions. The team acknowledged the mistake, apologized for the lapse, and accepted the decision of the stewards.
