Force India fined for Perez FP2 wheel incident 

The Force India Formula 1 team has been hit with a €15,000 fine after Sergio Perez lost a wheel during second practice for the French Grand Prix. 

It has also received an additional €85,000 suspended fine for 12 months as part of the penalty handed out by stewards following an investigation into the bizarre FP2 incident that saw Perez’s wheel come loose on Friday. 

The Mexican’s left-rear wheel completely detached from his VJM10 Force India car as Perez headed through the Turn 6/7 complex while on his first flying lap in second practice. The incident resulted in a red flag period with Perez being pitched into a high-speed spin, while his wheel was sent spinning along the Mistral straight. 

FIA stewards concluded “the problem was not caused by incorrect or incomplete fittest of the wheel but rather by an assembly fault involving poor seating of three retaining screws on the retaining plate” but decided to penalise Force India due to the high-speed nature making it “very serious and potentially dangerous”. 

The report continued: "Accordingly and consistent with previous decisions this year, the stewards decided that the grid place penalty that 'may' be imposed under the above article, would not be applied.

"However, it is noted that this is the third incident of this nature involving the team in the past two years and the second this year, and hence the usual penalty has been significantly increased.

"This fine represents the view of the stewards that the team needs to investigate its assembly and quality control procedures to ensure this type of potentially dangerous incident does not occur again, and believes the penalty is suitable and will also act as a deterrent in the future."