Audi fined €30,000 over premature green light at Hülkenberg pit stop

FIA stewards fined Audi €30,000 in a decision dated 4 October 2026, ruling that a premature green light during Nico Hülkenberg’s pit stop created an unsafe situation involving a mechanic but did not amount to an unsafe release.

The automatic system initially showed green while a mechanic remained in front of Car 27 near the left-front wheel after adjusting the front wing. Audi told the stewards its procedure included an additional manual safety check; the signal returned to red after a team member noticed the mechanic. Hülkenberg began moving in response to the green light but stopped before the car had fully left its pit-stop position.

The stewards had earlier summoned Audi’s representative over an alleged unsafe release by Car 27 at 17:35. The decision said the car had not been released under Article B1.6.2 while the unsafe situation existed. The stewards instead found an unsafe act resulting in an unsafe situation and cited a breach of Article 12.2.1.h of the FIA International Sporting Code.

€20,000 of the fine is suspended on condition that Audi commits no similar pit-stop infringement. The decision gives two periods for that suspension: 12 months in the penalty wording and the remainder of the 2026 season in a later passage.