Aston Martin has incurred the wrath of the FIA stewards at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as both drivers missed a fan engagement event on Friday.
The FIA summoned Aston Martin to the stewards’ room on Saturday morning to hear the team’s defence for skipping an engagement on Friday evening.
Drivers are expected to attend the mandatory event, allowing fans to meet them in a setting away from the paddock.
Aston attempted to argue that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll did not need to attend, given that Jak Crawford and Cian Shields drove in FP1, but this was rejected.
Both drivers received a fine of €25,000, €15,000 of which would be suspended for 12 months as a deterrent to Aston Martin for the next year.
The team offered to make amends by handing out signed caps to fans wearing Aston Martin gear, an olive branch accepted by the FIA.
In their statement, the stewards said they “have considered and accepted the proposal of the competitor to attend the fan zone this weekend and give signed team caps to all fans wearing Aston Martin apparel and to select two fans for a garage tour, view a session from the garage and meet both drivers for a photo opportunity.”
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