Title: Pit Lane Incidents: Verstappen, Russell, and Alonso Escape Penalties Again
Introduction
The recent Mexico City Grand Prix saw yet another qualifying session overshadowed by stewards’ investigations into alleged impeding incidents. Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Fernando Alonso were all summoned by the stewards for allegedly impeding cars while exiting the pit lane. This incident brought back memories of the Singapore Grand Prix, where Verstappen received only a reprimand for a similar offense. In this article, we will delve into why Verstappen received a reprimand in Singapore, the drivers’ perspectives on the pit lane incidents in Mexico City, and the need for a better system to address such issues.
Why Verstappen received only a reprimand in Singapore
During Q1 in Singapore, Verstappen waited at the pit exit for around 14 seconds to create a gap. According to the stewards’ decision document, a Red Bull team representative explained that Verstappen’s gap was negated by Turn 5 due to other cars slowing on the out lap. The stewards concluded that although there wasn’t an obvious advantage to Verstappen waiting for an extraordinarily long time, the potential for this to negatively impact other drivers warranted a penalty. However, they also noted that the car behind Verstappen could have overtaken him, emphasizing the importance of orderly departures from the pit exit. Hence, a reprimand was deemed an appropriate punishment.
What drivers had to say in Mexico City
The pit lane incident during Q1 in Mexico City resulted in a traffic jam at the pit exit. Valtteri Bottas acknowledged that bunching up has become standard nowadays. Drivers aim to create a gap before their out lap to drive in clean air and avoid traffic. However, finding the right balance is challenging. Bottas stated that it’s a fine line between going unnecessarily slow and queuing up behind each other. Carlos Sainz highlighted that slowing down at the end of the pit lane to create a gap is a common practice among drivers. Verstappen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the criticality of the six to eight-second gap during qualifying. He expressed surprise at the investigation, suggesting that all drivers should be called up for impeding since everyone drives slowly in the pit lane due to the new rule regarding the maximum delta time between safety car lines.
Verstappen argued that leniency is necessary in scenarios like this because the pit lane is the safest option to create a gap. He emphasized that drivers are unaware of what other cars are doing at the beginning of the pit lane. The alternative of creating a gap in the final sector can be dangerous for both queuing drivers and those on a flying lap. Verstappen called for a compromise to address this recurring issue and suggested that the current system needs to be reviewed.
Conclusion
The recent pit lane incidents involving Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Fernando Alonso during qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix once again raised questions about impeding and the penalties associated with it. Verstappen’s reprimand in Singapore for a similar incident highlighted the complexities involved in determining penalties for impeding. The drivers’ perspectives on the pit lane incidents in Mexico City emphasized the challenges they face in finding the right balance between creating a gap and avoiding unnecessary delays. It is evident that the current system needs to be reviewed to find a better compromise that ensures fair competition while prioritizing safety.