Unusual FIA Penalty Handed Out at Silverstone After Rare F2 Incident
An unusual penalty was issued by the FIA during the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone following a rare breach of safety rules in the Formula 2 feature race.
While Formula 1 took center stage, the weekend was notable for also featuring F2, F3, and F4 races — all sharing the track at Silverstone for the first time in a historic multi-series event. However, during Sunday’s F2 race, American driver Max Esterson found himself at the heart of an unexpected controversy.
Esterson, racing for Trident Motorsport, came in for his required pit stop when stewards noticed something unusual — one of the team members handling the right rear tyre was not wearing the mandated eye protection. This oversight violated Article 28.11 of the Sporting Regulations, which clearly states that eye protection is compulsory during pit operations.
As a result, the FIA issued a €500 fine to the Trident team. Esterson, however, did not receive any sporting penalty and continued racing, ultimately finishing 13th in the feature race after placing 21st in the sprint event on Saturday.
Max Esterson’s journey into motorsport has been far from traditional. The 22-year-old American began with sim racing at age 11, earning recognition as one of the world’s top virtual racers before moving into real-life competition. He only started karting at 16 but quickly advanced through ranks including the Formula Ford Festival, GB3, and Formula 3, before making the leap to Formula 2.
Although he clinched a win in the 2022 GB3 Championship, Esterson has yet to claim a podium in F2 and currently sits 20th in the standings with no points so far in the 2025 season.
Despite the seemingly minor nature of the violation, the penalty serves as a reminder of the FIA’s strict enforcement of safety standards no matter how small the detail.
