“Drivers must not cross the line,” FIA revises the law regarding pitlane entry and exit after Max Verstappen’s controversy in Monaco
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Max Verstappen and FIA
Max Verstappen could have had his podium snatched away in Monaco if the FIA had decided to act on Ferrari’s protest of him crossing the pitlane exit line as he was coming out after his pitstop. It’s a question of centimeters at times which could alter the results and that’s exactly what happened with Max Verstappen in Monaco. Something that was quickly picked up by Ferrari and brought to FIA’s attention.
We know that drivers don’t have a lot of overtaking opportunities in the principality and therefore the undercut and overcut becomes more prevalent than ever. While the two Ferraris qualified ahead of the two Red Bull, pit stops were seen as a clear option to pip them. Both Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen were able to successfully implement Red Bull’s strategy as they came out ahead of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc respectively.
But while trying to do that both Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen were alleged to cross that pitlane exit line. But the FIA thought that both the drivers had done nothing wrong and were allowed to go unpunished. But, it was difficult to figure that out from the naked eye as it was touch and go. Therefore, it became imperative for the FIA to make the law crystal clear around the pitlane entry and exit.
Also Read: Daniel Ricciardo: “We can make the most of the [Baku] weekend.”
FIA confirms that there will a revision in pit entry and exit rules after Ferrari’s protest against Max Verstappen
FIA has been proactive in their decision making this year around and have wasted no time dealing with this controversy. The governing body has revised the law to include the International sporting code.
Here’s what it says:
4. Entrance to the pitlane
a) The section of track from the first safety car line (SC1) to the pitlane is designated the “pit entry”.
b) During competition, access to the pitlane is allowed only through the pit entry.
c) Any driver intending to leave the track or to enter the pitlane should make sure that it is safe to do so.
d) Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the Stewards), any tyre of a car entering the pitlane must not cross, in any direction, any line painted on the track at the pit entry for the purpose of separating cars entering the pitlane from those on the track.
5. Exit from the pitlane
a) The section of track from the end of pitlane to the second safety car line (SC2) is designated the “pit exit”.
b) There will be a green light and a red light (or similar signs) at the pitlane exit. Cars may only leave the pitlane when the green light is on (or sign is displayed).
c) Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the Stewards), any tyre of a car exiting the pitlane must not cross any line painted on the track at the pit exit for the purpose of separating cars leaving the pitlane from those on the track, as reported by autosport.
We have to commend FIA on their toes for something as minor as cutting the line on pit exit. But, it’s also important after the kind of controversy that happened last year.
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Shubham Bajpai
(776 Articles Published)