Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll formally warned by FIA over Qatar garage incident

The FIA has formally warned Lance Stroll over his aggressive behavior in the Aston Martin garage during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

Lance Stroll during the 2023 Qatar GP-Credit: Aston Martin F1

The FIA has officially warned Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll regarding his conduct during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

The governing body took action after Stroll was seen shoving his trainer in the team's garage on Friday following his shock elimination in Q1 qualifying.

Stroll is not at all happy with his own performance!#F1 #QatarGP #F1Sprint #AstonMartin #Stroll pic.twitter.com/cEgMV9uutl
— giFF1🏁 (@giFFormula1) October 6, 2023

In a statement on Friday, an FIA spokesperson confirmed that their Compliance Officer had received a formal apology from Stroll about the incident.

The officer acknowledged Stroll's apology but also issued him a written warning, stressing his duties as an F1 driver to uphold the FIA's Code of Ethics and conduct regulations.

The FIA maintained its zero-tolerance policy against misconduct that could lead to physical harassment.

Fernando Alonso during the 2023 Qatar GP-Credit: Aston Martin F1

The incident occurred last Friday evening in the Aston Martin garage at Losail International Circuit.

Onboard footage showed a visibly frustrated Stroll tossing his steering wheel onto the floor after crashing out in Q1.

He then appeared to aggressively shove his trainer Henry Howe who was approaching him. Stroll subsequently stormed out of the garage.

The FIA began investigating whether Stroll's actions contravened Article 12.2.1.c of the International Sporting Code, which prohibits "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motorsport generally."

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Qatar GP-Credit: Aston Martin F1

This clause covers the vague area of bringing motorsport into disrepute.

Stroll's team principal Mike Krack had earlier downplayed the incident, urging observers to consider the high-stakes circumstances.

However, the FIA's formal warning makes clear such behavior cannot be mitigated or condoned given Stroll's stature and responsibilities as an F1 driver.

The governing body is sending a message that all competitors must uphold the highest standards of conduct even in stressful situations.

With just two races left in the 2023 season, Stroll will be hoping to move on swiftly from this controversy.

The 23-year-old Canadian has secured points just once in the last five races. He will be aiming to sign off his difficult campaign on a brighter note and demonstrate he has learned from this experience.

Meanwhile, the FIA warning serves as a reminder that driver behavior behind the scenes can still fall under intense scrutiny.