SHANGHAI — The Formula 1 team, Williams, has been penalized 50,000 euros ($54,000) following an administrative mix-up during the Chinese Grand Prix, as decided by the race stewards on Saturday.
The issue arose due to the team’s inability to record onboard footage during Friday’s practice session. Williams mistakenly assumed that the cameras fitted on their car would already include memory SD cards, but the slots were empty.
While the fine was initially set at 50,000 euros, a significant portion—40,000 euros ($43,000)—has been suspended. In the latest measures, the FIA equipped all participating cars this season with new wireless cameras facing both forward and backward. These upgrades come after the governing body increased scrutiny of rear wing flexibility following observations made during the season opener in Australia. They introduced stricter tests for static loads to ensure compliance.
Williams was expected to submit the video files captured by the newly installed cameras within an hour post-practice, but unfortunately, the recording oversight meant no data was available.
“The Williams team identified a red flashing indicator on the cameras during the session, which they reported to the Technical Delegate,” explained the stewards in an issued statement. “Despite their awareness, they were uncertain of the indicator’s meaning, and were unable to install the requisite SD card(s) in time.” The stewards also noted that there was no indication that the car’s wings failed to meet the Technical Regulations regarding bodywork flexibility.
Williams has acknowledged this oversight and plans to revise their internal protocols to prevent a recurrence. They promised that all necessary video footage will be submitted without any lapses moving forward.
“Recognizing the importance of adhering to technical regulations, we appreciate the FIA’s fine and the productive dialogue that followed,” Williams stated.