US Grand Prix: Organizers Receive Fine for Regulatory Violation

The organizers of the United States Grand Prix were summoned to the stewards' office following an investigation after Sunday's race. As a result, they received a fine of 500,000 euros for failing to comply with safety regulations.

Photo: Circuit of the Americas 

The penalty was imposed because more than 200 fans entered the track to celebrate the awards before the race concluded. At the time the invasion began, there were still cars completing the cool-down lap, which posed a serious safety risk.

It is common for fans to access the circuit before the cars reach the garages. However, on this occasion, more than 200 people jumped over bars, scaled fences and walls to reach the main straight, where the podium ceremony would take place.

The stewards revealed in a statement: “ a large group of spectators, estimated at approximately 200 people, in the grandstand alongside pit straight, climbed a small fence and dropped around 2 meters to the ground between the grandstand and the track debris fencing”.

They added: “ then they went under the debris fencing and climbed over the trackside wall, approximately 1 meter high, and then merge into the main straight”.

All this happened while some cars continued to follow the usual route at the end of the race. Although the cars are not traveling at maximum speed at that time, the presence of people on the track represents a significant danger, as the vehicles are still moving.

This incident falls within article 12.2.1.h of the FIA ​​regulations, which establishes that “sanction measures must be taken due to actions that may lead to an unsafe situation.”

For this reason, the organizers received a fine of 500,000 euros. However, for now they will only have to pay 150,000 euros, while the rest of the fine is suspended until the end of 2026. This suspension will remain as long as a similar incident does not occur during the next season and in 2026. In the event of a repetition of an event of this nature, the organizers will be obliged to pay the remaining amount of the sanction.