Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR9. Formula One World Championship, Rd5, Spanish Grand Prix, Practice, Barcelona, Spain, Friday, 9 May 2014. © Sutton Images
Stewards decided Vergne’s car had been released in an unsafe condition after a pit stop, and that the team had breached Article 14.7 of the technical regulations, which states that “all cars, whilst under their own power, must be fitted with devices which will retain the wheel fastener in the event of it coming loose.”
As well as Vergne’s grid drop, Toro Rosso were fined €30,000 for the offence. Vergne finished second practice 12th on the timesheet, two places behind team mate Daniil Kvyat.