Alonso and Stroll fined for skipping Abu Dhabi fan forum, part of penalty suspended
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have been hit with €25,000 fines each — with €15,000 suspended — after failing to appear at Friday’s fan engagement session in Abu Dhabi.
The stewards labelled it a “significant” penalty, landing after both full‑time drivers sat out FP1 and, according to Aston Martin, believed their reserve cover meant they weren’t required to attend the fan forum. The panel didn’t agree, pointing to the FIA’s Sporting Regulations that mandate driver appearances at media and fan activities across a race weekend.
Here’s the breakdown. Each driver owes €10,000 immediately. A further €15,000 sits suspended for 12 months and will be triggered if there’s another breach. In other words: don’t miss another one.
Aston Martin has offered a make-good of sorts. The FIA accepted a proposal for the team to distribute signed caps in the fan zone to supporters wearing Aston Martin gear, plus invite two randomly selected fans for a garage tour at Yas Marina. The team must provide proof that it’s done so. It doesn’t erase the fines, but it’s a gesture that should resonate with the people who queued up under the Abu Dhabi sun.
The stewards’ reasoning had a clear through-line: fans come first. They acknowledged the inconvenience for drivers — not least because there was a five-hour gap between the fan forum and FP2 — but stressed that Article 19 exists for a reason. The FIA’s media delegate reported that “many fans had waited for several hours in the heat” to see the drivers. The non-appearance, the stewards concluded, was down to the competitor, and the penalty reflects that. They also recommended that the proceeds be put toward encouraging motorsport participation in the region, whether through officiating or grassroots activity.
It’s a notable line in the sand. The calendar’s gotten heavier, the commitments broader, and everyone’s juggling. But the sport’s push toward closer fan access is one thing the FIA and F1 agree on, and this decision underlines how tightly that rope is being pulled.
From Aston Martin’s side, the optics aren’t disastrous — the remedial plan should soften some edges in the grandstands — but it’s a reminder that expectations don’t evaporate just because a team runs reserves in FP1. The rulebook treats fan sessions like any other fixed appointment.
As for Alonso and Stroll, they’ll be keeping a closer eye on the timetable for the next stop. A €10k clip each today and the threat of an extra €15k tomorrow tends to focus the mind — even for a pairing as experienced as this one.
For context, both drivers are confirmed at Aston Martin for the 2025 Formula One World Championship, and the team continues to operate under the same banner this season. The message from Abu Dhabi is simple enough: when the fans show up, so must the drivers.
