Formula 1 drivers and team members subject to track walk “bike ban”. F1 drivers subject to track walk “bike ban”.

Thursday track walk has become known as a key day for the overall experience of a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, with drivers and their team members taking part in media day and complete a lap on the track as they talk about the major challenges that awaits them.

The track walk period has a place on the official weekend timetable, and for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix it was set at 1pm-4.30pm on Thursday, despite the fact that there is also time later in the evening when the track is usually open to anyone.

Many drivers chose to view the track on bicycles, which is no longer allowed after the rule change. Taking into consideration also tge advent of electric bikes and scooters, the circuit was becoming increasingly hectic during the walk period, especially when support events like F2 and F3 were on the bill, and a decision has now been made to ban any form of wheeled transport.

Two weeks ago at the Bahrain Grand Prix, a letter was sent to the teams from FOM, which as the event organiser has responsibility for the track between official sessions.

The note informed: “To clarify and to avoid future misunderstanding, the use of any means of transport (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters, etc) is forbidden during the time window stated as ‘Team Track Walks’ on the Event Timetable. No exceptions will be allowed. This decision has been agreed with the FIA.”

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Despite the reference to the FIA as the note came from FOM and not the governing body, there is no clear punishment for breaking this rule:

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was asked about this rule change and clearly expressed his disapproval ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix:

“I didn’t walk around,” he said. “And as I think they’ve just issued a new thing where we cannot go around the track with a bicycle you probably won’t see me around the track anymore, and I’ll just watch the videos!”

This weekend at the Jeddah Corniche circuit, team track walks were further affected by the track being closed by Formula 1 for filming on Thursday evening at a time when some teams would normally do their walks, forcing them to change their plans and go earlier, when some drivers had to take part in the official press conference or other media duties:

Nico Hulkenberg explained: “I wanted to do it now, but they blocked the track, and it’s all gone wrong now! I’ll watch the safety car, and I’ll see it tomorrow.”