Struggling with a computer breakdown on Friday during the day because of its cybersecurity provider Crowdstrike, which experienced a technical issue during the update from Thursday to Friday night, Mercedes had to work in the paddock later than usual. The team thus broke one of the permitted joker curfews authorized by the FIA.
Last night, members of the Mercedes team involved in the operation of the cars were on the circuit premises during the eleven-and-a-half-hour period [of the curfew] that began at 10:00 p.m. on July 19, fourteen and a half hours before the scheduled start of the third free practice session (P3) and ending three hours before the scheduled start of the P3 at 9:30 a.m. on July 20, explains the Federation’s statement.
The sporting regulations allow teams to break two curfews in the 24-race season. This is the first of two Mercedes’ jokers, so there will be no penalty: « This was the first of the two individual exceptions allowed for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team during the 2024 Formula 1 Championship season, and therefore, no action will be taken. »
Note that curfews have been introduced in F1 to preserve the good health of the personnel, who are already required to work all around the globe for more than 24 weeks. Thus, depending on the progress of the weekend, it is forbidden to work on the cars from a certain hour and above all, it is forbidden to have personnel present in the paddock.
A sign placed at the entrance of the accesses specifies whether the curfew is exceeded or not and employees are checked at the level of their security badge.
