F1 2023: Azerbaijan GP - Baku (Apr 30)

[c1pher]

Not that I’m an F1 driver by any stretch, but Baku is a more technical course, almost as difficult for me as Monaco in the F1 game. You have to get everything right in the tight sections and there’s only one nice long straight. I was surprised Verstappen didn’t fight harder. He did get the extra point for fastest lap so I suspect he was sandbagging a little.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by c1pher

I was really surprised too. It was obvious he was going too fast. I laughed when they said stewards said no further investigation.

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

[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.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

No I got it wrong, Russel's wheel gouged a hole in Max's side pod, ahh a racing incident...or was it.

Secret weapon

[Marcoose]

Lovely race. Made my day.

[G30M]

these guys are not normal

flat out 51 laps and didn't crash

street racing shows how good these guys are

[G30M]

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.

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.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Rono63

Checo was very impressive. He did get a break with the safety car, Max over took Charles very quickly but couldn’t really cut into Checo’s lead.

Checo was closing in on Max big time.

RBR had 2 options - see both their cars crash into a million pieces or pit Max. THey took option 2.

Checo took care of the rest.

[G30M]

Aston team radio: Fernando, Lance will not challenge your position

Fernando: He can try, but he won't succeed.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Secret weapon

007 wheels lol It certainly appears so from the brackley lot.

[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).

[M5Rick]

Looks like the FIA is starting to slowly become disorganised, another incident with Ocon's near miss with a crowd of people coming into the pits to park up and only the quick reaction of an F1 driver saved the day.
Accusations against Ben Sulayem and him not getting fully involved with the running of FIA now are affecting the sport as a whole, perhaps the 'old boys' system of choosing a president should now be reviewed.

[br438]

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.

copy that- AM was stacking.

George had 2 tires in the fast lane, and that was enough?

Artemis addressed the rest. For all the safety rules and decades of racing, It’s wild that double-wide in pit lane, encroaching on pit crew work areas at 80kph has never been addresssed.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Secret weapon

The name is Bond . James Bond !

#007

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by br438

copy that- AM was stacking.

George had 2 tires in the fast lane, and that was enough?

Artemis addressed the rest. For all the safety rules and decades of racing, It’s wild that double-wide in pit lane, encroaching on pit crew work areas at 80kph has never been addresssed.

A different pit lane incident at slower speed, but deemed by Race Directors to endanger pit lane personnel, happened on June 25, 2021: Bottas unintentionally spun in the pit lane during Free Practice 2 of the 2021 Styrian GP (Austria).

Race directors decided that "This has to be considered as potentially dangerous driving, especially as personnel were around in the pit lane."

Penalties for Bottas: drop of 3 grid positions + 2 Penalty Points.

Makes you kinda wonder, why 'no further action' for Russell for intentionally racing at close to 80 km/h mainly in the "inner lane" section of the pit lane (instead of inside the designated "fast lane") featuring a pit crew of a competing team with their backs turned to the approaching car ? Just imagine for a moment that you were part of that pit crew: how would you feel about your safety upon learning that FIA did not reprimand Russell for his pit lane antics ?

[Marcoose]

I’m happy you’re not a race director.

You’re far too biased.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

I’m happy you’re not a race director.

You’re far too biased.

Feel free to think what you want. That's your right, definitely.

If you'd ever sustain bodily injuries in a traffic accident requiring, say, over six months of rehab, there's a chance that you may become even more 'biased' about safety.

And I'm equally 'biased' to genuinely (neither irony nor sarcasm) wish you all the best in preserving your full physical integrity (safe from harm), now and in the future.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by g21

these guys are not normal

flat out 51 laps and didn't crash

street racing shows how good these guys are

Who is normal earning mega multi-millions over a season.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The name is Bond . James Bond !

#007

Watch out for my 007 Rolex, it can kill you... Shame Chas didn't such have a watch like that when he was robbed in Viareggio and then there'd be two dead fences in that silver hatchback

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Who is normal earning mega multi-millions over a season.

Red Bull update !

After all the baseless rumors ....

Adrian Newey got a new $10 Million Red Bull contract.

Well done Red Bull & Adrian Newey !

#Genius

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Red Bull update !

After all the baseless rumors ....

Adrian Newey got a new $10 Million Red Bull contract.

Well done Red Bull & Adrian Newey !

#Genius

...and Adrian is worth every penny of it

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

...and Adrian is worth every penny of it

A cover shoot from the number 1