The star has been hit with a £430 fine thanks to his sister’s little outfit breaching the FIA sporting regulations
Formula 2 star Sebastian Montoya has been handed a £430 (€500) fine after his sister Paulina stunned in a short white dress at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The driver was hit with the charge due to the outfit breaching FIA sporting regulations. Montoya is currently competing in the Spanish GP in Madrid for Prema Racing. This race is taking place in the same city as the Formula 1 version, which will begin at 2pm on Sunday at Madring Sur.
Following Friday’s qualifying session, which Montoya did not complete, the Prema ace was fined by FIA stewards after a female guest was spotted not wearing trousers in the restricted working lane next to the Spaniard’s car. The woman, now recognised as Paulina, stunned in a short white dress as she watched her 21-year-old brother compete in F2.
In her post on social media, Paulina celebrated her birthday with the caption: “Bye bye teens #20.” Fans flocked to the comments to point out the fine as one said: “Who’s going to pay the fine?”
Stewards later confirmed that Paulina’s outfit breached Article 22.15 of the FIA F2 Sporting Regulations. This requires team and technical personnel in the pit lane to wear long trousers during practice sessions and races.
However, Paulina was merely a guest of her brother and not a part of the Prema personnel. Despite the team explaining this point, the rules stipulate that competitors are also responsible for the actions of those they allow access to restricted areas.
This means that guests are subject to the FIA rules, and, following a review of video evidence, a fine was issued. This incident was one of several that took place during F2’s qualifying session in Madrid on Friday.
An FIA statement read: “The Stewards summoned (Document 19) and heard the team representative. They examined video evidence. The team representative explained that the woman wearing shorts was a guest of the team and not an operational team personnel member.
“The Race Director reminded the following to all the Competitors in Competition Notes in Madrid (art 11.1). Teams are reminded that guests are included in the category as defined in Article 20 of the ISC. Additionally, Article 9.15 of the ISC states that the competitor is responsible for all acts or omissions on the part of any person to whom the competitor has allowed access to the reserved area.
“Furthermore, ‘Article 22.15 of the Sporting Regulations states all team and technical personnel must wear long trousers in the pit lane during all practice sessions and the races. Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined that a team member of Car 11 near the car was not wearing long trousers during the session and therefore decided to fine the team €500.”
QUalifying was interrupted by three red flags with Montoya included in the list of drivers involved in the incidents. Dino Beganovic is in pole position for the main race, with Alex Dunne and Rafael Camara making up the initial front line.
Montoya has been left without a classified position in the final order after all the red flags and recording a 2.14.210 lap. The F2 Grand Prix will begin at 10.25am UK time (11.25am local) on Sunday, ahead of the F1 race at Madring later in the afternoon.
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