27/03/2015
NEWS STORY
Williams has been handed a suspended 10,000 euro fine for breaching the tyre rules during FP1.
The team was called before the stewards for an alleged breach of Article 25.4 a of the Sporting Regulations, Felipe Massa alleged to have used a set of prime tyres allocated for use in the first thirty minutes of the session after the permitted time.
The stewards ultimately deemed that though the rule whereby an extra set of tyres can only be used during the first thirty minutes of the session had indeed been breached, Massa didn't gain any benefit and consequently imposed a suspended fine. However, if it happens again the fine will be applied.
"The competitor admitted the infringement and sought to mitigate," said the stewards in a statement. "Having considered the facts, the stewards accept the infringement was inadvertent and no advantage was gained as a result.
"In the circumstances, the stewards decided that a suspended penalty was appropriate for the infringement. The penalty is suspended for the rest of the season unless the competitor commits a similar infringement, in which case this penalty shall become payable immediately without prejudice for the further infringement."
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