[Artemis]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Check out the Ferrari pitcrew , and see where Russell's car was .. Awesome !

Originally Posted by br438

So... how exactly do the rules allow Russel to not get a penalty there? Driving at pit speed... but not in the "high speed lane".
seems dubious... for all the FIA enforce, that life and limb of pit crew... is ... meh.

Originally Posted by g21

Stroll slowed down as he was entering the pits to back up Russell
Bcos Stroll will need to wait for Alonso to finish pitting before he gets serviced. DIdn't want Russell to overtaking him while he waits for Alonso to finish.
But Russell passed him on pit entry before the pit speed limit line.

Originally Posted by c1pher

I laughed when they said stewards said no further investigation.

Article 34.4 of the 2023 Formula One Sporting Regulations (25 April 2023 version - see here) specifies the following about the pit lane:

"34.4 The pit lane will be divided into two lanes, the lane closest to the pit wall will be designated the “fast lane” and may be no more than 3.5 metres wide, the lane closest to the garages will be designated the “inner lane”.
Other than when cars are at the end of the pit lane in accordance with Articles 43.3. 44.2 and 57, the inner lane is the only area where any work can be carried out on a car. However, no work may be carried out in the fast lane if it is likely to hinder other cars attempting to leave the pit lane."

See this YouTube video: Russell barely drove inside the "fast lane". Pit lane speed is restricted to 80 km/h. Pit crew members ("pit lane personnel") inside the "inner lane" stood with their backs to the "fast lane". They were not the Mercedes pit crew awaiting Russell's approach. Though there was still some distance between Russel's car and the pit crew, Russell endangered them: that pit crew was not expected to encounter Russell approaching mainly inside the "inner lane" (leaving the "fast lane" too early to reach the Mercedes pit crew and trying to get an advantage). If a pit crew member had taken a couple of steps backwards inside the "inner lane" or if a wheel gun was lying around, an accident could have happened. Getting hit at close to 80 km/h ain't no joke.

Article 34.14.a) of the 2023 Formula One Sporting Regulations specifies the following about "unsafe pit release":

"34.14 In all of the cases detailed in this Article 34.14, a car will be deemed to have been released either when it has been driven out of its designated garage area (when leaving from the garage) or after it has completely cleared its pit stop position following a pit stop.
a) Cars must not be released from a garage or pit stop position in way that could endanger pit lane personnel or another driver.
b) Competitors must provide a means of clearly establishing, when being viewed from both above and in the front of the car, when a car was released.
c) If a car is deemed to have been released in an unsafe condition during any free practice, or qualifying session or sprint shootout, the stewards may drop the driver such number of grid positions as they consider appropriate. Such penalty will be applied to the race unless the infringement has been committed during the sprint shootout, in which case the penalty will be applied to the sprint session.
d) If a car is deemed to have been released in an unsafe condition during a sprint session or a race, a penalty in accordance with Article 54.3d) will be imposed on the driver concerned. However, if the driver retires from the sprint session or the race as a result of the car being released in an unsafe condition a fine may be imposed upon the Competitor.
e) An additional penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, continues to drive a car knowing it to have been released in an unsafe condition."

AFAIK no clause exists yet about "unsafe pit entry". Race directors have to fall back on "unsafe driving" and the like (see Article 33 ("Driving")). IMHO for safety reasons (especially to protect pit crew) FIA should update Article 34 ("Pit entry, pit lane and pit exit") with an "unsafe pit entry" clause. It wasn't necessary in the past but Russell gave a bad example and got away without penalty. There is a reason why the "fast lane" is maximum 3.5 meter wide.

Or, alternatively, let them put cones, foam obstacles or road bumps near the pit entry section.

Actually you don't need regulations for prevent those antics - it's common sense that Russell should not have done what he did. If Russell felt frustrated by trailing (or felt forced to slow down by) Stroll in the pit lane, he should have overtaken Stroll on track in the first place.

And it's irrelevant that it was Russell: I would say exactly the same if any other driver had done this. It's unacceptable for any driver and even more dangerous than speeding in the pit lane (fined via Article 34.7).