The FIA will review the pit exit in Korea
After the collision involving Nico Rosberg and Jaime Alguersuari at the end of the straight. The Spanish driver was exiting the pits when the German arrived; he went wide after locking the wheels and hit the Toro Rosso. The German driver and the Ferrari drivers also hope that the FIA will do something to change things.
After the incident between Rosberg and Alguersuari, several drivers stated that changes could be made, particularly regarding the exit of the pit lane. This is especially the case with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who acknowledge that improvements have already been made but it doesn’t seem to be enough.
“The entrance to the pit lane has been improved compared to last year, but there is still work to be done on the exit,” confided Fernando Alonso.
The exit of the pit lane is difficult, as everyone could see with the collision between Rosberg and Alguersuari: I think efforts should be made in the future, Felipe Massa said.
Nico Rosberg has also recommended that changes be made to prevent another accident, particularly during the qualifying session or the race on Sunday.
« It might be good to reconsider things so that the pit exit is not done like this. It wasn’t good circumstances, it happens. He (Alguersuari) arrived right at the wrong time. I thought he was going to slow down a little to let me pass, but he didn’t, and by the time I realized it, it was too late. It was simply unfortunate, » Nico Rosberg shared.
The requests of the three drivers have not gone unheard, as the FIA is considering changing this pit exit for next year. In the meantime, it could decide to install new lights—indicating a blue flag—to warn drivers leaving the pits of the presence of drivers on the track and lights on the track—displaying a white flag—to indicate that drivers are exiting the pits.
Following the Rosberg/Alguersuari incident, the stewards also decided not to penalize the German but to impose a fine of 10,000 euros, with 5,000 euros suspended for a period of twelve months.
« The stewards, considering the mitigating circumstances of the exit from the pit lane, the wet track, and the data indicating that the driver of car number 8 (Rosberg) was fully braking when he saw car 19 (Alguersuari’s), and furthermore, taking into account Mr. Rosberg’s good service record in Formula 1, have decided not to impose a penalty, » states a communiqué from the stewards.
But according to Autosport, Nico Rosberg was fined for not going directly to see the stewards at the end of the session – the German having gone to see the press to express his feelings about the accident.
