Aston Martin fined again after 'potentially dangerous' Stroll wheel cover incident

Aston Martin has been handed a second financial penalty at the Canadian Grand Prix after an incident involving Lance Stroll that the FIA stewards described as "potentially dangerous."

As qualifying began, Stroll was flagged for leaving the garage with his AMR26 in an unsafe condition — specifically, the wheel covers were still fitted. On his way down the pit lane, the outer wheel trim detached and was recovered by an FIA delegate. Then, during Stroll's outlap, the inner wheel cover also dislodged.

Why it matters:

Losing carbon fibre parts at speed poses a serious safety risk to other drivers and trackside personnel. The FIA's firm response underscores the sport's zero-tolerance approach to unsafe car conditions, especially after Aston Martin's earlier pit lane error with Fernando Alonso.

The details:

• The stewards noted the part is "potentially dangerous if it hits another car or a person."
• Stroll was unaware of the issue, and the team admitted its inspection process had overlooked the correct fixation of the securing devices.
• Aston Martin committed to a thorough review of its inspection process.
• The team was fined €7,500 for this incident, following a €5,000 penalty earlier in the weekend for an unsafe release of Alonso into the path of Alpine's Franco Colapinto.
• The stewards explained the higher fine compared to an unsafe release "due to the fact that the car was on the track when the second piece dislodged."

What's next:

Aston Martin will need to tighten its pre-session checks to avoid further penalties. With two fines in one weekend, the team faces pressure to improve operational discipline as the season progresses.