Audi fined €7,500 after cooling fan error disrupts Slater’s first F1 session

The stewards fined Audi €7,500 after the team sent Freddie Slater onto the track for first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a cooling fan still in the right-hand sidepod of his car.

The mistake disrupted the 18-year-old’s first official F1 session. Audi quickly called him back to the garage, but the fan caused the power unit to overheat; Slater’s running appeared to be over after about half an hour, before he had completed a push lap.

He did return after Audi cooled the car, with only a few minutes of the hour left. Slater set timed laps and finished 21st, with a quicker time than Colton Herta in the Cadillac.

The stewards said the fan had not fallen off, but could have done so. Slater will also take part in first practice at next week’s Brazilian Grand Prix.