FIA announce SHOCK disqualification at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Photo: © IMAGO

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

FIA announce SHOCK disqualification at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

It was a tough setback for the young star who has confirmed his F1 plans for next season

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson F1 Editor

Motorsport journalist covering F1 since 2024

Sunday 8 December 2024 17:55 Updated: 21:23

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The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend proved a tough one for one racing star, who was disqualified after his car was found to have been illegally modified.

Whilst the Yas Marina Circuit was set to host the Formula 1 season finale this weekend, it also saw the final round of the 2024 Formula 2 season take place.

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As is usually the case in F2, a sprint was set to take place on one day, with a longer feature race scheduled for the next.

The weekend looked to have got off to a great start for Hitech's Paul Aron — who will be Alpine's F1 reserve driver in 2025 — too, with the Estonian driver finishing on the podium in F2's Saturday sprint.

F2 driver and 2025 Alpine F1 reserve Paul Aron

Racing star disqualified in Abu Dhabi

However, Aron's joy was later cut short when it was announced that he had been disqualified from the race, with a report from the FIA technical delegate indicating that the DRS actuator of his car had been modified, which is a breach of the F2 technical regulations.

According to F2, it was modified to be lengthened by one millimetre, allowing a wider opening of the DRS wing and thus handing the driver a pace advantage under those conditions.

Given the seriousness of the offence, however, the FIA not only disqualified Aron from the sprint race, but also forced him to start from the pitlane for Sunday's feature race.

"Car #17 has been disqualified from the results of the Sprint Race, the standard penalty for a technical infringement," an F2 statement read.

Gabriel Bortoleto won the F2 championship in Abu Dhabi

"In this case however, there is a strong presumption that the team was aware of the non-conformity of the part (or at least should have been, if they had exercised due diligence).

"As such an offence can only be committed by a deliberate act to modify the part in question, the Stewards consider that an additional penalty for the disqualification of Car #17 from Race 1 is appropriate. Article 12.4.6 of the FIA International Sporting Code gives the Stewards the authority to impose an additional penalty.

"In view of the seriousness and nature of the offence, the Stewards consider it appropriate that in addition to the disqualification from the Sprint Race, Car #17 should start from the pit lane for the Feature Race."

Having started from the pitlane, Aron went on to finish P11 in the feature race, making it a point-less weekend for the driver.

The feature race also saw the F2 championship wrapped up by future Sauber/Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who beat Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar to the title.