McLaren have been fined $50,000 by stewards in Monza after they ran a new lightweight gearbox in Hungary that had not been crash tested.
Although the gearbox did not require an altered crash structure, McLaren breached article 16.1.2 of Formula 1 s technical regulations which state that “any significant modification introduced into any of the structures tested shall require that part to pass a further test.†McLaren s lightweight gearbox was deemed of sufficient magnitude to be regarded as significant and therefore required a further crash test.
After stewards discovered that the changes to the gearbox were significant enough for a new crash test to be carried out, the levied a $50,000 fine on the team.
In a statement, the stewards announced, “It was the view of the FIA that the changes made to the original gearbox were ‘significant’. The view of the Stewards is that the components having been satisfactorily tested indicate that the cars complied with the technical configuration required when they raced in Hungary.
“Nothing in this decision is to be taken as condoning the practice of retrospective impact testing resulting in the use of untested components but in the particular circumstances of this case no further sanction will be applied.”
