The Incident
Stroll grabbed attention after being knocked out in Q1 at the Losail circuit and expressing his anger in a rather dramatic fashion. He threw his steering wheel out of the car and pushed his trainer, Henry Howe, aside as he stormed out of the garage. Stroll's short seven-word interview to the official host broadcaster, which included a four-lettered expletive, further fueled the controversy.
FIA's Response
The FIA has stated that its compliance officer is in discussion with Stroll regarding several incidents that may have contravened FIA rules, policies, and procedures during the Qatar Grand Prix. While there has been no official word on which regulations Stroll may have broken, it is understood they relate to the key moments of what took place in the garage.
Stroll’s actions could potentially fall under the catch-all disrepute clause in the FIA International Sporting Code. Article 12.2.1.c states that a competitor will be deemed to have committed an offence if they are found guilty of any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any Competition or to the interests of motor sport generally. This rule was previously invoked when Max Verstappen was found to have breached it after pushing Esteban Ocon in the FIA garage after the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin's Stance
Despite the criticism, Stroll's team, Aston Martin, has not expressed significant concern over his actions. Team principal Mike Krack emphasized the importance of not reading too much into a driver's behavior immediately after they have exited a car, when adrenaline is still high.
Krack explained, "I think emotions is what we want from sportsmen and then if they react then we judge them quickly. Is this right, is this wrong? We need to be careful with that. We want to see it, because then we have something to talk about. But then I think it goes one step too far when you have 10 people, sitting down on the sofa or in an air-conditioned room, and saying 'this is too much or you cannot do that'. I think we need to have a bit more respect for the drivers and for elite sportsmen, I would say.”
As the FIA continues its investigation, the Formula 1 fanbase eagerly awaits the outcome, which could have significant implications for Stroll and the sport as a whole.
