WRONG NUMBERS
Force India collected one of Formula One’s stranger
sanctions when they were given a suspended
€25,000 fine for a breach of the rules concerning
driver numbers on their cars.
The British-based team were celebrating their
best weekend of the season, with Mexican Sergio
Perez finishing fourth and French rookie team mate
Esteban Ocon a career-best fifth at the Spanish
Grand Prix, before news came of a stewards’ enquiry.
The governing FIA had decreed before the race
that car numbers needed to be more visible, as part
of efforts to improve the show for fans.
Race stewards said Force India, whose cars
have a striking pink livery but no prominent numbers,
had failed to comply.
They added that the fine had been suspended
due to mitigating circumstances, namely that the
team were not challenged prior to the race and
nothing had changed over the weekend.
The stewards said fourth-placed Force India, now
the only team to have finished every race this season
with both cars i