AUSTIN, Texas — The governing authority of Formula 1 has imposed a hefty fine of nearly $550,000 on the organizers of the United States Grand Prix after a group of spectators unlawfully entered the track at Circuit of the Americas during the cooldown lap of the race on Sunday.

According to the FIA, around 200 fans seated in the grandstand across from the pit lane managed to breach security by climbing over a fence, dropping about six feet, and then crossing another fence and barrier to reach the racetrack. Although fans are permitted access to the area for podium celebrations following the race, this is only sanctioned once all vehicles have completely exited the track.

The FIA treats unauthorized track invasions as a grave safety concern. This incident prompted race officials to penalize the event organizers for “failing to take reasonable measures, thus resulting in an unsafe situation.”

Bobby Epstein, the president of the track, mentioned that his team plans to “review the video,” although he refrained from offering additional comments at this time.

The organizers are required to submit a detailed plan to the FIA by the end of the year, outlining steps to prevent similar invasions in the future. They must also conduct a comprehensive review of the entire track to identify and rectify any vulnerabilities that could lead to further safety breaches.

The FIA decided to suspend approximately $378,000 (equivalent to 350,000 euros) of the fine until December 31, 2026, contingent upon no further incidents of track invasions occurring at Circuit of the Americas during the 2025 and 2026 Grand Prix events.

It is worth noting that part of the fine was suspended as it was the first instance of a security breach at the venue.