Ferrari fined after qualifying day for a sporting infringement
Ferrari have received a fine of 5,000 € after having failed to follow the instructions regarding tyre usage in the third and final practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The third and final practice session saw Charles Leclerc struggle for grip on the soft tyre. After completing a singly flying lap on the C5 compound, the Monegasque came back into the pits for some changes before heading back out onto the Marina Bay Circuit for a second hot lap.
During this short pit stop, Ferrari mechanics were spotted decreasing the tyre pressure of Leclerc's car. The stewards noted the incident and the Maranello-based team was summoned to explain the matter.
After the investigation, the stewards have elected to penalise the Italian team with a 5,000 € fine for failing to follow the instructions laid out in Technical Directive 003N.
The FIA noted: "The Stewards heard from the team representative of Car 16 (Charles Leclerc) and reviewed video footage and technical data supplied by the Technical Delegate.
"The Team Representative of Ferrari, admitted that the team failed to follow the instructions laid out in Technical Directive 003N, point 2, which specifies that a tyre may be used more than once in a single session, as well as the procedures that must be followed if the team wishes to make adjustments to the tyres such as reducing tyre pressures, which is permitted, but requires that first, tyre temperatures must be obtained and all of this must be done in the presence of a FIA Representative.
"These procedures were not followed, which is a breach of Art 30.5a of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations. The Stewards note that this was during a Free Practice session," the stewards stated.
