Techeetah Formula E team-mates Jean-Eric Vergne and Andre Lotterer have been fined for wearing non-compliant fireproof underwear during the all-electric single seater series' season-closing New York City E-Prix.
During qualifying for the final race of the 2017/18 season, it was found that both Vergne and Lotterer were wearing non-compliant underwear in line with the FIA's and Formula E's sporting regulations and were both fined €5,000 and handed two penalty points as a result.
“After checking the clothes, helmet and front head restraint of the driver it was found that he was wearing non-compliant underwear pants which are not allowed by the [FIA’s] international sporting code,” read the bulletin from motorsport's governing body, announcing Vergne's offence.
“The driver apologised. The stewards consider that in this case the infringement occurred during group qualifying with limited cars on circuit for a short period of time.”
In New York, Vergne went onto win the Drivers' Championship in the penultimate race of the season while Techeetah narrowly missed out on the Teams' title, beaten to the top spot by Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler.
Lotterer's underwear offence occurred during the final Super Pole shootout of the season – a session that saw the German driver narrowly get beaten to pole position by Renault e.dams' Sebastien Buemi, with 0.040s separating the pair.
Earlier this season, former champion Lucas di Grassi also received a similar penalty for the same offence at the Punta del Este E-Prix, getting handed a €10,000 fine and three penalty points.
