Racing Bulls has been fined after Liam Lawson’s stop in Montreal and FIA’s discovery in the car’s system.
Liam Lawson’s first practice session in Canada came to an abrupt end after just five laps. The Racing Bulls driver lost the ability to shift gears due to a hydraulic problem, and the car stopped on track.
What initially appeared to be a common technical failure quickly escalated into something bigger.
When officials attempted to move the car, it was discovered that the car’s CDS system was not functioning as it should. This system is used to disengage the gearbox and put the car in neutral when the engine stops.
The FIA later determined that the problem was not a common fault, but rather how the system was designed.
FIA reacted to Racing Bulls’ solution
During the investigation, it emerged that Racing Bulls had used a solution where the CDS system had dual functions, including being linked to the car’s anti-stall system.
According to auto motor und sport, citing the FIA’s decision, the team had already received a warning regarding the design for 2025. However, no changes appear to have been implemented for this year’s season.
The consequence was that the car could not be quickly removed from the track, forcing a red flag during practice in Montreal.
Racing Bulls has now been fined 30,000 euros, although most of the sum is conditional.
For Lawson, the incident also meant he missed sprint qualifying after the team failed to repair the car in time.
