Four Formula One teams – Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, and Aston Martin, were penalized by the FIA for late arrival in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend due to logistical challenges, forcing teams to break the revised curfew. However, the FIA soon reversed the penalty, considering the circumstances under which the teams were delayed.
Two aircraft were said to have suffered from problems, preventing several teams from flying out on time from Melbourne. This caused a delayed arrival in Shanghai, leading teams Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, and Aston Martin to be late in finishing their setup.
In light of the situation, the FIA revised the curfew, permitting teams to finish their setup by allowing them more time. However, the four teams in question failed to comply with the revised curfew, leading them to use up one of the four exemptions teams receive in a season. A statement from the FIA stewards read:
“Wednesday night team personnel of the McLaren Formula 1 Team, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the 13-hour period which commenced at 17:30 on 19 March, 42 hours before the scheduled start time of P1 and ends 29 hours before the scheduled start time of P1 at 06:30 on 20 March.
“This was the first of the four individual exceptions permitted for the McLaren Formula 1 Team, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team during the 2025 Formula One Championship season and therefore no action should be taken.”
However, the FIA soon decided to reverse the exemption by considering that the curfew was broken “due to circumstances outside the control of the teams.” The statement from other stewards read:
“The stewards, having received a report from the FIA Technical Delegate (Document 7) that team personnel from McLaren F1 Team, Oracle Red Bull Racing, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team who are associated with the running of the cars were within the confines of the circuit during the curfew period, decide that having regard to the fact that this was due to circumstances outside the control of the teams, that the teams will not be required to utilise one of the four individual exemptions permitted during the 2025 Formula One Championship under Article 23.6 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”
The FIA’s reversal of the exemption offers some relief to the four teams, allowing them to focus on an intense Chinese Grand Prix weekend ahead.
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