AUSTIN, Texas — The United States Grand Prix organizers face a heavy fine for serious safety violations during the event.
According to the Associated Press, the governing body of Formula 1 fined the Circuit of the Americas after a group of spectators invaded the track following Sunday's race.
The FIA said about 200 fans in the grandstand across from pit lane climbed a fence before clearing another fence and barrier to get on the track while cars were still finishing their cooldown lap.
Fans are usually allowed in the area for podium celebrations, but only after the cars have cleared the track. Premature track invasions are considered serious safety violations, which resulted in a fine for "failing to take reasonable measures, thus resulting in an unsafe situation."
The AP reports that track president Bobby Epstein said his staff would "review the video" but wouldn't comment further.
The track must now give the FIA a plan to prevent an invasion from happening again and provide a review of the entire track to identify any other sports where a similar violation could happen.
About $378,000 of the fine was suspended until Dec. 31, 2026, as long as no other track invasion problems happened at COTA during the 2025 and 2026 grand prix. According to the AP, part of the fine was also suspended since it was the first time COTA had a security breach.
Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari its first US Grand Prix victory since 2018 and earned his third win of the season as Ferrari took home a 1-2 finish with teammate Carlos Sainz in second.
Ferrari's last winner at COTA was Kimi Raikkonen who became the most successful Finnish driver of all time in terms of race wins with his 2018 victory.
