Alpine slapped with fine after unusual Pierre Gasly rules breach

Alpine has been fined €5,000 following an unusual breach involving Pierre Gasly ahead of the Chinese GP Sprint. 

On the way to the grid, a cover flew off the pitot tubes and landed on the track, with this prompting an investigation into the team releasing the car from the pits in an unsafe manner.

Following an investigation after the sprint, it was discovered that Gasly left the Alpine garage with an antenna field still fitted to the car, resulting in the slam-dunk fine for the Enstone-based team.

The stewards' report read: "The Stewards heard from the Driver of Car 10 (Pierre Gasly) and the team representative, reviewed video and in-car video evidence and examined a recovered piece of equipment. 

"Car 10 left its garage to commence reconnaissance laps with a protective shield covering the antenna still attached. The car entered the track with the antenna shield still attached. It dislodged when the car was on track. 

"The antenna shield was recovered by trackside officials and was delivered to the Stewards. The team acknowledged that the item held by the Stewards was their antenna shield. The Driver said that his line of sight of the antenna shield was obscured by the halo and he had no idea it was there until he saw something fly off the car and he immediately reported that fact to the team. The team representative explained that they were trying to overcome communication problems when preparing the car for the reconnaissance laps and the fact that the antenna shield had not been removed was missed. The team only recognised the issue after the car had entered the fast lane and a judgment call was made that, given the manner in which it engaged over two antennae, the shield was unlikely to dislodge on one lap to the grid. The team acknowledged that it was a mistake to have made that assumption and they ought with hindsight to have told the driver to pull out of the fast lane and stop before he reached Pit Exit. 

"The Stewards determined that by releasing the car with the antenna shield still connected, the team released Car 10 in an unsafe condition. While not a large nor heavy object, the shield could have struck another driver or car on the track when it dislodged and caused injury or damage. The Stewards accept that the team believed that the shield would remain in place until it reached the grid but that belief was clearly misplaced. The team ought to have instructed the Driver to stop the Car before it entered the track."

Gasly finished the sprint in 11th place.