FIA stewards have fined Racing Bulls €30,000 after Liam Lawson's car stopped on track during the sole practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix, forcing a red flag. The penalty includes €20,000 suspended for 12 months, contingent on no further breaches of the same regulation.
Lawson's VCARB 03 halted with a hydraulic problem within 10 minutes of the session starting. Marshals were unable to move the car despite the presence of a Clutch Disengagement System (CDS), which is mandatory under Article C9.3 of the FIA F1 Regulations. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, an older venue without the perimeter roads of modern tracks, complicated removal efforts.
The CDS is designed to function for at least 15 minutes even if main hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical systems fail, allowing marshals to push a stranded car to safety. It is activated by a clearly marked button facing upwards on the monocoque, reachable within five seconds. The steward who initially attempted activation pressed the wrong button, though this did not affect the outcome as the system had already failed.
The stewards' document conveyed unusual displeasure, calling it "a serious matter." FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer had previously warned Racing Bulls about its CDS design, which unusually also services the anti-stall system. The failure not only disrupted the session—requiring a five-minute extension—but created an additional safety hazard as the CDS is meant to shut off the car's electrical energy recovery systems.
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