Why was Lance Stroll not penalized for a dangerous pit exit in Japan?
The FIA, after investigating, did not follow up on the potentially dangerous pit lane exit, a decision that analyzes the consequences of the actions rather than their potential danger. The regulations leave room for interpretation that can vary depending on the stewards in charge. However, in this case, it seems to be in accordance with the regulations. Let us explain to you.
During the Grand Prix of Japan, 5 drivers came into the pitstop at the same time, all in the same order: Kevin Magnussen (Haas) followed by Alexander Albon (Williams), ahead of Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) and Valtteri Bottas (Stake), and finally Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).
Aston Martin is the team that has its pit box closest to the pitlane exit. Canadian driver Lance Stroll is thus the last to arrive at his pit box. However, in the game of different pit stops, he comes out second in this group, in a line of 4 F1 drivers, all already launched at 80 km/h in the pitlane.
The FIA sporting regulations are clear: « Cars on the fast lane have priority over those joining the fast lane from the pit lane. Once a car has left its garage or pit stop position, it must merge onto the fast lane as soon as it can do so safely and without unnecessarily impeding the cars already there. »
Aston Martin’s mistake is therefore theoretically to let its driver go when three other drivers are already on the move. If he had come out side by side with the fourth in line, it could have been seen as a fight for his position. But by coming out side by side with the second in line, **Lance Stroll finds himself in the middle of the pack, unable to slot into the group.**
Point f) of the same paragraph specifies: « Cars must not be released from a stopped position in the pit lane in a manner that could endanger or unnecessarily impede pit lane personnel or another driver. […] ».
It is for this kind of situation, with two cars side by side in the pitlane, that this regulation was put in place. However, the FIA has decided not to penalize either Aston Martin or its driver: « The stewards reviewed the videos and images from the onboard cameras. Car 18 left its pit stall slightly behind Car 20 (Magnussen), which was in the pitlane. Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 5 b) states that Car 18 should merge into the pitlane as soon as it is safe to do so and without hindering any car in that lane. »
The FIA therefore states that the release of the Aston Martin pit stop did not hinder any drivers already in the pit lane and therefore, this part of the regulation was respected. If Lance Stroll had inserted himself between the other drivers, thereby forcing his way through, he would have been judged as endangering the safety of the other drivers. Which he did not do since he continued side by side with Kevin Magnussen.
The pit lane has the particularity of being quite wide at Suzuka, as well as the pit lane exit line to rejoin the track. This allows two cars to be side by side unlike some other circuits.
Given that car 20 was in the fast lane and was closely followed by car 77, it is not possible to determine whether car 18 could have merged before the pit lane exit. The explanation was provided by the FIA.
Another element was therefore looked at to ensure the legitimacy of the pit stop: the overtaking of Lance Stroll on the second in line, in the merging lane. Lance Stroll, upon accelerating, managed to get ahead of the Haas. Magnussen indeed had a lot of wheel spinning, losing a few meters to the benefit of the Aston Martin. On the left, now behind the Aston Martin, the Danish driver eased off to then let the Aston Martin pass. « At the pit exit line, car 18 was still behind car 20. Car 18 (Stroll) overtook car 20 (Magnussen) in the merging lane at the pit exit. This is not prohibited. »
After looking at the cameras from the cockpit, these criteria have been well respected. The regulations, although complex and sometimes considered as applied unevenly, seem to have been well applied.
