One of the hottest topics after the Monaco Grand Prix concerned the discussion on regulation, clarified by the FIA, which requires drivers not to cross the line when exiting the pits. Dynamic fueled by a transcription error in the race direction's notes. Two weeks later, on the eve of the Baku GP, confirmation arrives Niels Wittitch. Drivers will be able to touch the lines with their cars, as long as the tire does not go beyond it.
Ferrari – Red Bull clash in Monaco
At the end of the Grand Prix the Maranello stable, still burned by defeat, had brought the images of the car to the commission Perez, but above all that of Verstappen, conspicuously above the yellow line that delimits the exit from the pit lane. If the Mexican driver was immediately recognized as innocent by the Maranello men themselves, There was real fury over the Verstappen case.
The doubt arises from notes from the Race Direction, that the FIA publishes at every Grand Prix. The Munich notes specify that i “Drivers must keep to the right of the pit exit line“. Not specifying whether this includes simple touching with any part of the car or a total crossing. From this document Ferrari deduces that touching the line would therefore be illegal. Which also pushes the two red drivers to keep well away from the elusive yellow line exiting the pits. At the end of the race, also given the bitter defeat, Ferrari challenged the rule indicated by the notes in search of a penalty to give to Verstappen.
Error and clarifications from the FIA
The FIA Commissioners have rejected the Ferrari protest because the Race Director's notes had been written incorrectly. These reported the notes relating to the regulations of the previous season, i.e. those of 2021 and not those of the 2022 regulations. But in case of differences between the notes of the Race Director and the International Sporting Code, the latter prevails, which is why the FIA rejected Ferrari's appeal.
The rules on pit entry and exit lines are covered in Chapter 4 of Appendix L of the International Sporting Code, revised for 2022. The International Sporting Code, with the revision, specifies that“any tire on a car that leaves the pit lane must not cross the pit exit line". Which is correctly reported in all documents previous weekends, except in Monaco.
An "oversight" which led one of the two Race Directors designated for this season, namely Niels Wittich, to make the issue on the pit entry-exit lines public before the Baku weekend to avoid further misunderstandings.
The Race Director's notes in sight of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix refer directly to the international sporting code of the Federation, which should avoid the risk of further doubts and confusion.
News source: Formula Passion
