MEXICO CITY – The FIA has confirmed it will launch an official investigation into Audi following a safety lapse during the opening practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Stewards have summoned a team representative to face a hearing at 14:00 local time (20:00 GMT) after the German outfit released a car onto the circuit in an unsafe condition.
The incident occurred midway through Friday’s FP1 session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Audi had entrusted their car to 18-year-old British prospect Freddie Slater, who was making his highly anticipated Formula 1 debut. Slater, the runner-up in this year’s Formula 3 championship and a future Formula 2 contender, stepped into the seat usually occupied by Gabriel Bortoleto as part of the team’s mandatory rookie program.
However, the debut quickly turned into a logistical nightmare. In an extraordinary oversight, the Audi pit crew released Slater from his garage with a cooling fan still attached to the rear of the car. The sight of the equipment being dragged out of the pit lane prompted an immediate stir in the paddock and caught the attention of race officials, who quickly noted the breach of safety protocols.
While the team scrambled to rectify the error, the session took another turn for the worse for the rookie. Shortly after the fan incident, a separate technical issue hampered Slater’s car, forcing him to remain sidelined for a significant portion of the practice. The interruption stalled the young Briton’s development time, leaving him unable to gather critical data for the team.
Slater eventually managed to rejoin the track in the final minutes of the session, ultimately completing 14 laps. His best time of 1:20.945 placed him 21st in the classification, a result that, given the circumstances of his debut, was secondary to the team’s looming meeting with the stewards. The investigation into the unsafe release could lead to a fine or, in more severe cases, further regulatory action against the team for endangering track safety.
While the spotlight remained on the Audi garage, the remainder of the field enjoyed a highly productive session. Charles Leclerc set the pace for Ferrari, clocking a benchmark time that was faster than the fastest FP1 lap recorded at the high-altitude circuit last season.
As the focus shifts to the stewards’ room, the Audi team faces a tense wait to learn the extent of their punishment. The hearing will determine whether the dangerous oversight was a result of a breakdown in communication or a failure in pit lane procedure, with the FIA expected to issue a formal ruling later this evening. For Freddie Slater, the day served as a stark, high-stakes introduction to the complexities and unforgiving nature of the Formula 1 paddock.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
