The race stewards have fined the Williams F1 team after Pastor Maldonado’s left-rear wheel detached itself from his car during first practice in Japan.
The Venezuelan was rounding the Spoon Curve when the tyre came free, causing him to spin as it rolled through the gravel trap and came to rest against the tyre wall.
After the session, the stewards imposed a £51,000 (€60,000) on the team for failing to properly secure it.
“Examination of the parts concerned revealed that the wheel fastener had not been completely fastened, thus not engaging the first retaining plunger,” read a statement.
“This is a breach of article 23.12 of the FIA Formula 1 sporting regulations. The second retaining plunger [also] failed to keep the wheel in place. This is a breach of article 14.7 of the FIA Formula 1 technical regulations.
“This is regarded as a serious safety issue,” it added. “The team has assured the Stewards that the appropriate measures will be immediately implemented to ensure compliance.”
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