Kimi Raikkonen has avoided a grid penalty for a loose wheel during second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver was released from a mid-session pit stop when his team told him to "stop the car". Raikkonen pulled off the circuit after finding a safe location to do so, confirming his front-right wheel wasn't attached properly.
Normally the stewards would impose a grid penalty of three-places, but on this occasion they decided a more lenient penalty was required as the team "took all appropriate actions" to stop the car safely.
The team were instead fined €5,000. Raikkonen meanwhile ended the session quickest having earlier set a 1:29.817.
"The Stewards reviewed the video of the pit stop of Raikkonen at 19:14 and heard from the team representatives," read an FIA statement.
"The Stewards determined that the car was released in an unsafe condition in breach of Art. 28.13.b, that the team ordered the car stopped immediately, and that the driver stopped as fast as he safely could.
"Consistent with previous instances where a car was stopped on track, the Stewards decide that the mandatory grid place penalty could not be applied where the team took all appropriate actions, the Stewards fined the team €5,000."
