The FIA has slapped a hefty €50,000 penalty on Williams for a procedural error related to the flexi wing technical directive, TD034L. Williams didn’t comply with the directive that necessitates onboard cameras mounted on the FW47’s front and rear wings to have suitably formatted, empty SD cards installed at least 10 minutes before any session.
The summons came in the aftermath of the Sprint Qualifying in Shanghai, following a referral by technical delegate Jo Bauer, over an apparent violation of TD034L. This directive was issued a few days prior to the Chinese Grand Prix and serves as a crucial protocol in the FIA’s crackdown on teams using flexible front and rear wings.
The misstep by Williams was the result of a misunderstanding. The team didn’t provide the necessary video files, having overlooked the need to fit an SD card in the cameras. The FIA found that Williams had assumed the cameras were already equipped with SD cards. However, they only realized their error when they noticed a flashing red light on the cameras, which they promptly reported to Bauer.
Despite the oversight, the FIA clarified that there was “no suggestion that the wings were not in compliance with the bodywork flexibility requirements under the Technical Regulations”. As such, the penalty was primarily due to Williams’ non-compliance with the camera-related guidelines outlined in TD034L. Of the total fine, €40,000 has been suspended.
The team had depended on an email from the FIA Technical Delegate that suggested teams could use their own SD cards. They assumed that the cameras they installed on their cars came with SD cards supplied by the FIA. However, when they discovered the absence of the SD cards after the session, they failed to report this to the Technical Delegate.
Williams reacted to the FIA’s penalty by issuing a statement. They acknowledged concerns about the cameras not functioning in the FP1 session and their ongoing dialogue with the FIA. The failure to provide the footage within the allotted time was attributed to a communication mishap. They assured that internal processes would be rectified to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The team further confirmed that they had provided all necessary footage during the Melbourne event without any issues and will continue to support the FIA by providing all required footage on time. They also asserted the legality of their wing, confirming it to be the same wing used in Melbourne and fully compliant with the new TD.
Williams concluded by stating that they understood the FIA’s decision to impose the fine for ensuring fair enforcement of technical regulations and appreciated their constructive discussions and balanced handling of the issue.
