Mercedes Summoned to Stewards for Rules Violation at Las Vegas GP
Mercedes is under investigation by the Stewards for failing to submit their car setup sheets before qualifying at the Las Vegas GP, violating Article 40.1 of the Sporting Regulations. This procedural breach, essential for technical compliance and fair play, could result in a fine, reprimand, or, less likely, sporting penalties. The Stewards' decision is pending.
Mercedes is under investigation by the Stewards for a breach of the Sporting Regulations at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The team failed to submit their suspension setup sheets for both cars before qualifying, a direct violation of Article 40.1 of the 2025 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.
Why it matters:
This procedural infraction, while seemingly minor, is crucial for maintaining fair play and ensuring all cars comply with Parc Fermé regulations. The FIA relies on these documents for post-qualifying and pre-race verifications, and a failure to submit them could compromise the integrity of the technical checks, potentially giving a team an unfair advantage or concealing a deeper issue.
The Details:
- Regulation Breach: Mercedes did not provide the Technical Delegate with the required suspension set-up sheets for both cars before they left the pit lane for qualifying.
- FIA Article 40.1: This rule explicitly states, "Each Competitor must provide the Technical Delegate with a suspension set-up sheet for both of their cars before each of them leaves the pit lane for the first time during the sprint qualifying session and the qualifying session."
- Technical Delegate's Report: Jo Bauer's report confirmed, "At 20:12 the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team still had not submitted the set-up sheets for both of their cars. As this is not in compliance with SR Article 40.1 of the 2025 Formula One Sporting Regulations, I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration."
- Purpose of the Rule: These sheets are vital for the governing body to conduct post-qualifying and pre-race verifications, ensuring all cars adhere to Parc Fermé regulations.
What's next:
The Stewards will now review the matter. While there are no prescribed penalties for a breach of Article 40.1, typical sanctions for such infractions range from a fine, a reprimand, or a formal warning. It is highly unlikely, but in cases of a more severe nature, sporting penalties such as a grid penalty or a pit lane start could be considered. The F1 community will be watching closely for the Stewards' decision, which will underscore the importance of strict adherence to procedural rules in the sport.