Aston Martin Fined $5,000 for Leaving Fans Waiting in Heat at Spanish Grand Prix
Barcelona, Spain – Aston Martin has been issued a $5,000 fine by the FIA following complaints that fans were left waiting for “several hours in the heat” outside the team’s fan zone at the Spanish Grand Prix. The penalty, announced Friday, comes as the team attempts to repair relations with supporters after logistical issues marred a planned meet-and-greet event.
the incident occurred as Aston Martin sought to appease fans following a recent period of disappointing on-track performance. The team had promised a visit to the fan zone with signed merchandise giveaways, exclusive garage tours for two fans, and meet-and-greet opportunities with drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. However, a significant number of fans were reportedly held outside the fan zone for extended periods in high temperatures, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.The FIA requested proof of remediation efforts from the team, resulting in the planned fan engagement activities.
Aston Martin addressed the situation by promising to hand out signed hats to fans wearing team merchandise and offering two supporters a garage tour and driver meet-and-greet.Team driver Fernando Alonso acknowledged the challenges of setting up the car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, stating, “tricky circuit always to balance the car. Very different corner speeds in the first sector and in the last sector. The hotel section is always very slow and challenging to negotiate, but yeah, I think as was to be expected.”
Friday’s practice sessions saw young drivers Jak Crawford and Cian Shields take the wheel in FP1, with Alonso finishing ninth and stroll twelfth in FP2. Alonso praised the performance of both young drivers, saying, “I think thay did a very good job in FP1. We got all the data that we wanted, so they drove consistently, and yeah, I think it was not much missing.”
The FIA’s decision underscores the importance of fan experience and safety at Formula 1 events. Aston Martin will aim to deliver a smoother experience for fans throughout the remainder of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
