Prior to the Brazilian GP, FIA race director Niels Wittich has announced additional measures to address traffic congestion and unsafe incidents in the pit lane.
In recent races, there have been instances where cars have been driving at very slow speeds towards the end of the pit lane, particularly during qualifying sessions. In some cases, they have even come to a complete stop, leading to hazardous situations.
Drivers resorted to this behavior to avoid exceeding the maximum lap time on the track. Unfortunately, this has only shifted the problem from the circuit to the pit lane.
No penalties were imposed due to a gray area in the rules, but it became necessary to implement further measures. Race director Niels Wittich has emphasized the need for expected behavior from drivers in both qualifying and sprint qualifying sessions, which has been clarified in an additional note.
According to Article 33.4 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, drivers are prohibited from driving unnecessarily slow or stopping in the fast lane of the pit lane. During sprint qualifying and qualifying, drivers are allowed to create a gap between the lights at the pit lane exit and the Safety Car 2 line. Any driver choosing to do so must stay as far to the left as possible to allow other drivers to pass on their right, as stated in Niels Wittich’s additional note.
Drivers who fail to comply with these instructions may face additional penalties.