US Grand Prix bosses explain missing F1 trophies as massive fine given for track invasion

United States Grand Prix bosses have been fined £383,500 after a track invasion saw around 200 people enter the Austin circuit while it was still live.

And they have also explained why Charles Leclerc did not receive the expected winner’s trophy following his victory at the Circuit of the Americas. While the action on track in Texas was exciting, the immediate aftermath of the race went far from swimmingly as far as organisers were concerned.

Most worrying was the fact some fans managed to make their way onto the track while some cars were still on their cool-down laps after the race. The FIA believes around 200 climbed over a fence opposite the pit lane eager to grab a good spot from which to view the podium ceremony.

Those fans had to climb over that fence and drop around two metres to the ground, before getting over another catch fence and a barrier. Still, it was considered to be a serious breach of safety rules given the track was still live.

And so the stewards took a dim view of what happened. The promoter was summoned to explain what had happened, and it was determined that the “failure to take reasonable measures” which resulted in an “unsafe situation” was a breach of the FIA International Sporting Code.

Of the amount fined, around £268,500 is suspended until the end of 2026. It will be payable only if the Circuit of the Americas sees another, similar breach at any motorsport event in that timeframe that is sanctioned by the FIA, including the next two US Grands Prix.

The race promoter will also have to submit a plan to the FIA which explains how it plans to prevent another such track invasion in the future. Such incidents have become more common in F1 in recent times.

Earlier this year, fans managed to get onto the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve while it was still live after the Canadian Grand Prix. And a similar incident happened at the Australian Grand Prix in 2023, which also saw the promoter given a hefty fine.

Meanwhile, a late change of trophy took place in Austin after Pirelli had hyped up a ‘Heroo’ design which never made it onto the podium. Winner Leclerc was instead handed a tube-shaped gong for his victory, as were Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen.

Pirelli told Motorsport.com that they had become aware that the trophy was very similar to other designs and so decided to pull them from use. The replacements were flown in from elsewhere in the US at the last minute.