Force India Fined After Spanish GP — Numbers Game Gone Bad?

For the Spanish GP, new rules were introduced. The rule stated that the teams need to highlight the car number and driver name so that the fans can identify the drivers easily during the race.

On Thursday practise session, many teams introduced the new design and bigger numbers. But FIA has noticed that the Force India's design does not meet the regulations.

Force India drivers finished in fourth and fifth in the Spanish Grand Prix. But soon after the race, the team were summoned to the steward's office. The team was slapped with a $25,000 fine, suspended for 12 months and ordered to rectify the numbering design and display the driver name before the next race.

Several other teams have displayed the number on the shark fin and front of the nose. But on Force India's car, these places are reserved for the sponsor logos, and the team explained that the locations were arranged before the new rule.

Later, the FIA stated that the penalty had been suspended as they were not challenged about the numbers during the Spanish GP. Force India has agreed to work with FIA to rectify the issue ahead of next race.

Lewis Hamilton won the Spanish Grand Prix, he was involved in a thrilling battle with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel. Finally Vettel had to settle for the second place. Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo finished in the final podium place.