There was a lot of excitement over the past Formula 1 weekends! It was repeatedly seen, either in qualifying or in the sprint shootout, how some drivers blocked the pit exit.
However, there were even investigations against some Formula 1 drivers such as Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. However, these remained unpunished. That could now change in the future. Because the FIA wants to take action against it immediately.
Formula 1: FIA has had enough!
At the Brazilian Grand Prix there will probably no longer be such chaos at the pit lane exit. According to “Motorsport-Total”, the FIA has made it clear to the drivers that behavior like the one recently seen in Mexico is now prohibited. Formula 1 drivers are no longer allowed to stop in the so-called “fast lane” at the pit exit.
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Race director Niels Wittich made it clear in point 14 of the “Event Notes” that are available before every race: “According to Article 33.4 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations, drivers are not allowed to drive unnecessarily slowly, including stopping of a car in the pit lane passing lane. During the shootout and qualifying, drivers are allowed to create a gap between the pit exit lights and the SC2 line.”
In Mexico, Verstappen, Russell and Alonso faced a penalty, but the investigation had no consequences for the drivers. The stewards explained it this way: “We find that drivers are faced with conflicting demands. They must adhere to the minimum time and try to create manageable gaps to the vehicles in front. But they also have to avoid stopping unnecessarily at the pit exit or driving slowly.”
Pilots face punishment
But anyone who stops at the exit of the pit lane and thereby delays the other Formula 1 drivers must expect a penalty. The reason for stopping just before the end of the pit lane is an established maximum lap time that drivers are not allowed to exceed in qualifying or sprint shootouts.
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Whether Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Co. will stick to this will become clear this weekend in Brazil.