Red Bull has been hit with a £26,000 (€30,000, $38,500) fine after they released Mark Webber with an unsecured right-rear tyre.
The Australian left his pit box as one mechanic frantically signalled that a tyre hadn’t been fitted correctly. However it was too late and the tyre freed itself and rolled down the pit lane at speed, passing several mechanics and eventually striking an FOM cameraman, Paul Allen.
The cameraman was taken to hospital where he is being treated for concussion.
The stewards chose to investigate the matter after the race. They ruled that Red Bull had unsafely released car two and fined the outfit.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-120x86.webp)
“The team released car 2 before all wheels were safely fitted and the right rear wheel came off as the car left the pit stop position. The wheel passed four teams and struck a camera operator causing injury.”
Force India were fined £4,300 (€5,000, $6,500) for releasing Paul di Resta into the path of Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-350x250.webp)
Discussion about this post