U.S. GP promoter fined over $500,000 for track invasion

The promoter of the United States Grand Prix has been fined over $500,000 due to the number of fans invading the track before all cars had returned to the pit lane after the race. Track access is permitted at the majority of venues – including Circuit of the Americas – but fans must enter through designated gates when they are opened following the end of the race. On Sunday, the FIA noted that around 200 fans made it on to the track before that time, through an area that was not significantly policed. “A large group of spectators, estimated at approximately 200 people, in the grandstand alongside pit straight, climbed a small fence and dropped around 2 meters to the ground between the grandstand and the track debris fencing,” a stewards’ document read. “They then went under the debris fencing and climbed over the trackside wall (approximately 1 meter high) and then merged onto the main straight. All this occurred whilst the competing cars were still on track completing their cool down lap after the checkered flag.” Noting that there had not been a track incursion before in the event’s 12-year history, and that the safety plan to allow fans onto the track “was actually well implemented”, the stewards found that the plan did not identify the risk that an incursion could happen where it did along the pit straight. The promoter – Circuit of the Americas LLC – has been tasked with delivering a remediation plan by the end of this year that will also assess if there are other potential incursion areas, on top of being handed a hefty fine of €500,000 ($540,000). €350,000 ($380,000) of the fine is suspended until the end of 2026, providing there are no further track incursions at the circuit during any FIA Championship event.