USGP promoters handed huge penalty after track breach

The promoter of the United States Grand Prix, COTA, has been fined €500,000 following an investigation post-race.

Race control took issue with 200 fans accessing the track before the conclusion of the race, which was won by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

It's commonplace for attending fans to be let onto the circuit after all the cars have returned to the pit lane to enjoy the podium ceremony from a closer vantage point.

However, on this occasion, roughly 200 fans jumped a fence before going under a debris fence to make their way onto the circuit during the cooldown lap.

Specifically, the stewards revealed: "A large group of spectators, estimated at approximately 200 people, in the grandstand alongside pit straight, climbed a small fence and dropped around 2 metres to the ground between the grandstand and the track debris fencing. 

"They then went under the debris fencing and climbed over the trackside wall (approximately 1 metre high) and then merged onto the main straight. 

"All this occurred whilst the competing cars were still on track completing their cool down lap after the chequered flag." 

The incident breached Article 12.2.1.h of the FIA International Sporting Code, in reference to failing "to take reasonable measures thus resulting in an unsafe situation".

Only €150,000 has to be paid, with the rest suspended until the end of 2026, on the basis that a similar incident does not occur.