McLaren and Williams have become the first teams this season to break curfew at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and have each used up an exception to the curfew legislation.
As a result of the exceptions given to them, Williams will not be penalised under the regulation introduced in 2010 that gives teams an individual number of exceptions based on their Constructors’ Standings position from the year before.
Williams started the year with eight, and therefore have seven remaining.
“Last Wednesday, team personnel of the Williams Racing team, who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the thirteen-hour period which commenced at 21:00 on 16 March, 42 hours before the scheduled start time of P1 and ends 29 hours before the scheduled start time of P1 at 10:00 on 17 March,” read a message from the stewards.
“This was the first of eight individual exceptions permitted for the Williams Racing Team during the 2022 Formula 1 Championship season and therefore no action should be taken.”
The rule preventing teams from working during certain hours of the day and night was introduced just over 11 years ago to alleviate the pressure on team personnel who were having to work strenuous hours.
McLaren now have five exceptions left at their disposal.
“Last night team personnel of the McLaren F1 team, who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the fourteen-hour period which commenced at 21:00 on 17 March, eighteen hours before the scheduled start time of P1 and ends four hours before the scheduled start time of P1 at 11:00 on 18 March,” the stewards said.
“This was the first of six individual exceptions permitted for the McLaren F1 Team during the 2022 Formula 1 Championship season and therefore no action should be taken.”
The teams are set to the take to the track for the first Practice session of the 2022 season later today at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.