Before the start of the 2023 Formula One championship, the FIA have confirmed a key pit-lane exit rule change in the International Sporting Code, as a result of a controversial moment that took place in the 2022 Monte Carlo race.
Scuderia Ferrari launched a complaint to the FIA last year following the Monaco Grand Prix which was directed at Red Bull and their driver Max Verstappen, after on-board footage clearly revealed that Verstappen swerved towards the pit-lane exit line, a move that drivers are not permitted to do.
Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez won the Monaco Grand Prix last year and was also investigated for a possible breach rule after swerving towards the yellow pit-lane exit line; but eventually the Red Bull drivers were not penalised and kept their position on the podium, while Charles Leclerc finished fourth despite starting from pole position.
Max Verstappen went on to finish third in Monte Carlo and kept his P3 after the event despite the fact that he stuck to one side of the exit-line, a move which drivers have previously been penalised for.
The stewards explained that: “In this case, the car did not “cross” the line – to do so it would have needed to have a full wheel to the left of the yellow line.”
After the FIA’s detailed update as to why the Dutchman did not receive a penalty in Monaco, several F1 drivers admitted to being unhappy with the content of the ISC, an issue that was raised yesterday in a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.
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Explaining that it would solve the issue and therefore improve driver safety, the Council made a change in terms of wording of the rule, as all the drivers and teams were informed of this update with just one day before round 1 of the 2023 Formula 1 championship.
After the rule change up, race stewards will now take into consideration the outer edge of the car’s tyre, meaning drivers will likely keep well away from potentially crossing the line to avoid a penalty.
Following the approved rule change, the International Sporting Code in question explained: “For the avoidance of doubt, crossing means that the outside of any tyre should not go beyond the outside, with respect to the pitlane, of the relevant line painted on the track.” – the press release states.
The new rule change will also be available to pit-entry as well, to avoid any other other confusion. To further emphasise what is deemed acceptable, Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich even submitted a drawing in his pre-race Event Notes at the Bahrain International Circuit to explain where the new limits are.
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