Monaco GP penalty controversy: the unusual reason behind the speeding violations. FIA faces questions after wave of pit-lane speeding penalties in Monaco.

The pit-lane entry line may be the reason behind the remarkable number of penalties handed out during the Monaco Grand Prix.

A highly complicated situation

During the Monaco Grand Prix, there was a genuine flood of pit-lane speeding penalties. The speed limit was set at 60 km/h, yet a large number of drivers received five-second penalties for exceeding it. Among those penalized were Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Pierre Gasly, who dropped from third to seventh place in the final classification after receiving two separate five-second penalties.

Whenever something happens on such a large scale, it is natural to suspect an issue with the detection system. However, the situation appears to be much more complex and may also be connected to the fact that Formula 1 now has 11 teams instead of 10 following Cadillac’s arrival, resulting in an additional garage in the pit lane.

Many drivers cut across the white line both when entering and exiting the pit lane. From a regulatory perspective, this is permitted, but it may create an unusual problem. In Formula 1, pit-lane speed is not measured using cameras or radar guns. Instead, it is calculated through electronic timing loops and FIA transponders.

The system determines a car’s speed by measuring the time taken to travel the length of the pit lane. As a result, even a very small shortcut can reduce the overall travel time enough to trigger a speeding infringement, despite the driver respecting the 60 km/h limit throughout the pit lane itself. In fact, the recorded violations were extremely small. Pierre Gasly’s two infractions, for example, amounted to just 0.1 km/h and 0.4 km/h over the limit.

It has since emerged that the matter was discussed between the FIA and the teams during the race weekend. Some drivers were reportedly warned before the race to pay particular attention to their positioning while driving through the pit lane.

Alpine has decided to file an official protest by exercising its right of review under the regulations. It remains to be seen what the outcome of the appeal will be. Gasly, and seemingly many of the other penalized drivers, respected the maximum speed limit in the pit lane, but were nevertheless judged to have exceeded it, likely because they shortened their route when entering the pit lane in a way that is actually permitted by the regulations.

It is a highly complicated situation for the FIA to deal with. According to George Russell, the entire issue may ultimately be linked to a software problem.