Force India Formula 1 "escaped" a potential €85,000 ($99,000) fine in Singapore "because a suspended fine" generated by an offense earlier in the season "was deemed not to apply to the revamped team," according to Adam Cooper of MOTORSPORT. The case "has highlighted how some sporting elements" related to Sahara Force India "have been carried over to the new Racing Point Force" by FIA, and "others have not." In Singapore, "the team was found guilty of an unsafe release of Esteban Ocon's car in FP3" and received a €5,000 ($5,800) fine. However, the stewards' decision "made no mention of the fact that at the French GP," the original team received a penalty of a €15,000 ($17,500) fine plus a further €85,000 suspended for 12 months when Sergio Pérez was "released with a loose wheel." Although the Singapore incident "was not serious, in that it did not involve a loose wheel, in theory it would still have been sufficient to trigger the suspended fine, as that applied to all forms of unsafe release." However, in Singapore, the stewards "decided that the French GP penalty was awarded to a different team, and thus was no longer valid." In making that call, "they referred to the stewards' decision at Spa which explained the rationale behind the acceptance of Racing Point Force India as a new entry" (MOTORSPORT, 9/16).
THE WAY IT IS?: AUTOWEEK's Sam Hall reported Haas F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner said that the chances of the Haas F1 team getting its disqualification from the Italian Grand Prix reversed "are 50/50" and that Renault’s postrace protest "broke a gentlemen’s agreement among teams." Underhanded tactics and "pushing the rules to the edge of what is acceptable is Formula 1 by definition," and Steiner "has learned the hard way the lengths some teams will go to defend their championship points and prize money." Disqualified in Italy for running illegal floor dimensions, Haas has taken its case to FIA’s court of appeal, with Steiner feeling that the race stewards on the day were not "able to understand the complexities of the problem" (AUTOWEEK, 9/13).
MAGNA MAKES HISTORY: Magna announced it will join BMW i Andretti Motorsport as a primary partner for its Formula E team. The collaboration with BMW i Andretti Motorsport demonstrates Magna’s commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact. Magna’s involvement in Formula E marks the most significant engagement with a motorsports team in the company’s history (Magna).
