Haas Fined €5,000 at Monaco Grand Prix
The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix weekend wasn’t without drama for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, as they were handed a €5,000 fine by the FIA stewards for an unsafe release of Oliver Bearman’s car during reconnaissance laps.
According to the official stewards’ document, Car 87 — driven by Haas rookie Oliver Bearman — was released from the garage with a cooling fan still attached. A quick-thinking member of the pit crew chased the car down the fast lane to remove the equipment, narrowly avoiding a more serious incident.
The infringement, a breach of Article 34.14 (c) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, occurred at 14:18 local time during the reconnaissance session. Although the situation was promptly handled and no harm came to the driver or others, the stewards deemed the release to be unquestionably unsafe.
Given the session type and swift mitigation, the stewards treated the matter similarly to a free practice infraction and issued a financial penalty instead of a sporting one.
“It is beyond doubt that the team should not have released the car in that manner and it could have had an impact on the safety of the driver and other drivers,” the stewards’ report stated.
This incident adds to what has already been a weekend filled with scrutiny for the Haas outfit, as they continue to navigate a challenging 2025 campaign with rookie Bearman at the wheel.
Teams are reminded that safety in the pit lane and garage operations is paramount, and even minor lapses can carry consequences. Haas has the right to appeal the decision under Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code, though no such intention has been publicly stated.
