Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll is now under the scrutiny of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) after his tumultuous reaction to the Qatar Grand Prix, where he threw his steering wheel out of the car and exhibited signs of frustration in the garage.
The incident, which was widely discussed on social media, has prompted F1’s governing body to examine the events that unfolded during and after the race.
Stroll’s outburst, including his actions in the garage, may potentially be in violation of FIA rules and policies. The FIA has not officially disclosed the specific regulations that Stroll may have breached. Follow your favourite F1 team with attractive F1 betting odds from Nextbet.
It is speculated that Stroll’s actions may fall under the catch-all disrepute clause in the FIA International Sporting Code, Article 12.2.1.c. This article stipulates that a competitor can be found guilty of an offense if they engage in “any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any Competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.”
This rule was previously invoked in the case of Max Verstappen, who confronted Esteban Ocon in the FIA garage after the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix. As a result, Verstappen was ordered to complete two days of public service for the FIA.
While Stroll’s actions drew criticism from spectators, his Aston Martin team, led by team principal Mike Krack, downplayed the incident. Krack emphasized the importance of understanding that drivers, right after leaving the race car, are often high on adrenaline, and their immediate reactions should not be overly scrutinized.
Krack commented on the matter, stating, “I think emotions are what we want from sportsmen, and then if they react, we judge them quickly. Is this right, is this wrong? I think we need to be careful with that. We want to see it because then we have something to talk about.”
He continued, “But then I think it goes one step too far when you have ten people sitting down on the sofa or in an air-conditioned room, and saying ‘this is too much or you cannot do that.’ I think we need to have a bit more respect for the drivers and for elite sportsmen, I would say.”
As the FIA conducts its discussions with Lance Stroll, the motorsport community waits to see whether his actions at the Qatar Grand Prix will result in any formal repercussions. Get the latest updates from the world of F1 only on Nextbet Sports.
