Several teams hit with heavy punishments in Melbourne

Three of the 11 F2 teams have been handed significant penalties by the FIA stewards at Albert Park for an infringement during pre-season testing.

Dams Lucas Oil, Rodin and Trident were each found foul of the same rules in the championship's regulations.

The FIA decision document highlighted a "Breach of Article 10.2a of the FIA Formula 2 Sporting Regulations and breach of Article 1.5.2, Article 8.4.10 and Article 8.4.11 of the FIA Formula 2 Technical
Regulations."

The cars of Jak Crawford, Max Esterson, Alex Dunne and Amaury Cordeel (the latter of which did not partake in the test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya) were found to have air pressure sensors installed via drilled holes in the diffusor.

This allowed the teams to transfer airflow beneath it, which goes into the pipeline of the pressure sensor. In doing so, they modified a standard part, which is not permitted.

The stewards stated that the collection of data, although at a different venue, could theoretically be applied and used as an advantage in Australia.

Each team has been fined €10,000 per car to deter and punish them for the infraction. Rodin's fine is therefore double that of Dams Lucas Oil and Trident, as both its cars were implicated.

More severely, each of the four drivers of those machines have been given a 10-place grid penalty for both the sprint and feature races in Melbourne - a particularly harsh punishment for Cordeel, having only assumed Christian Mansell's seat last week and after the indiscretion occurred.

Further still, it was also determined that given the potential advantage afforded to team-mates, the other Dams Lucas Oil and Trident cars should also face sanctions.

As such, Kush Maini and Sami Meguetounif both received 10-place grid penalties for the two races at Albert Park as well, meaning six of the 22 car-strong field has now been penalised.

The stewards strongly recommended each team be restricted to just two days of running during F2's three-day mid-season test, which is in Bahrain.

In addition to that, it was strongly recommended that by way of a technical bulletin, F2 allow the other teams to apply for permission to gain the same data as the three guilty parties for the duration of the in-season test.

F2 has confirmed it will duly apply those recommendations.