Teams are required to electronically return two sets of dry tires per driver within two hours of the end of FP1. In addition, these tires must be physically returned to Pirelli before FP2.
On Friday night, the FIA noted that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu’s tires were not returned electronically in time.
At a hearing, the team admitted they had made a mistake and the stewards duly applied a fine of €5,000 for each car.
However, in doing so they also made it clear that the team had been a repeat offender in not making their tire management work effectively, and had to be recalled by FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer on other occasions. .
The marshals note that for each car: “The agent [of Alfa Romeo] admitted the infraction and explained that the engineer responsible for this task had failed to do so.
“The Technical Delegate had confirmed with the appointed tire supplier that, although the electronic return did not take place, the tires had been physically returned to the appointed tire supplier before the start of P2.
“Compliance with the electronic return protocol is important. The FIA relies on the submission of the electronic declaration to monitor tire usage to ensure that allocated tires are not misused.
“According to the technical delegate, he had to remind this team several times this season to submit electronic returns which were neglected. This was not disputed by the team representative.
Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42
Photo by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Images
“Although no sporting advantage could be derived from oblivion in this case as the tires had been physically returned and therefore could not be reused, nevertheless a technical breach of the regulations was committed.”
During the 2017 Japanese GP, the Haas team was fined €5,000 for an electronic return violation, but were suspended.
At this year’s Hungarian GP, Williams was fined €1,000 after making a mistake in their tire allocation and Alex Albon actually used a set that had been returned electronically.
Thus, the harsher penalties for Alfa Romeo may reflect the FIA’s frustration that the Swiss team had to receive these recalls.
Teams are required to electronically return two sets of dry tires per driver within two hours of the end of FP1. In addition, these tires must be physically returned to Pirelli before FP2.
On Friday night, the FIA noted that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu’s tires were not returned electronically in time.
At a hearing, the team admitted they had made a mistake and the stewards duly applied a fine of €5,000 for each car.
However, in doing so they also made it clear that the team had been a repeat offender in not making their tire management work effectively, and had to be recalled by FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer on other occasions. .
The marshals note that for each car: “The agent [of Alfa Romeo] admitted the infraction and explained that the engineer responsible for this task had failed to do so.
“The Technical Delegate had confirmed with the appointed tire supplier that, although the electronic return did not take place, the tires had been physically returned to the appointed tire supplier before the start of P2.
“Compliance with the electronic return protocol is important. The FIA relies on the submission of the electronic declaration to monitor tire usage to ensure that allocated tires are not misused.
“According to the technical delegate, he had to remind this team several times this season to submit electronic returns which were neglected. This was not disputed by the team representative.
Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42
Photo by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Images
“Although no sporting advantage could be derived from oblivion in this case as the tires had been physically returned and therefore could not be reused, nevertheless a technical breach of the regulations was committed.”
During the 2017 Japanese GP, the Haas team was fined €5,000 for an electronic return violation, but were suspended.
At this year’s Hungarian GP, Williams was fined €1,000 after making a mistake in their tire allocation and Alex Albon actually used a set that had been returned electronically.
Thus, the harsher penalties for Alfa Romeo may reflect the FIA’s frustration that the Swiss team had to receive these recalls.