Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) received a formal warning from the Japanese Grand Prix stewards for violating the race director’s instructions regarding traffic in the pit lanes during the second free practice session. Both drivers were cautioned for overtaking cars in the fast lane by using the working lane to reach the test start area, a maneuver prohibited by the regulations.
The facts
During a second chaotic practice session disrupted by four red flags, Hamilton and Stroll made standing starts using the inside lane (working lane) instead of merging into the fast lane, as required by the official document from the race director. The stewards noted that both drivers had overtaken several cars in the fast lane by crossing the working lane to reach the standing start area. Hamilton committed the infraction after the third red flag, Stroll after the second.
What the regulations say
The race director’s document, fully cited by the stewards, clearly stipulates that: « Any car(s) driven to the end of the pit lane before the start or resumption of a free practice session or qualifying session must form a line in the fast lane and leave in the order in which they arrived. »
The race director’s notes also define when a car is considered to be in the fast lane: « A car will be considered ‘in the fast lane’ when a tire has crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the inner lane. In this context, crossing means that the entire tire must be beyond the farthest side, relative to the garages, of the line separating the fast lane from the inner lane. », they specify.
A context of reinforced rules
The commissioners referred to Article 12.2.1 i) of the International Sporting Code, which requires competitors to follow the instructions given by the race director for specific events. Thus, they found that Hamilton’s car number 44 overtook several cars in the fast lane while crossing the working lane towards the test start area. The same infraction was noted for Stroll when he took position at the end of the pit lane by overtaking cars in line.
These rules regarding the use of the pit lane have been strengthened in recent seasons due to an increase in the number of drivers queuing at the pit exit in anticipation of the start or resumption of a session. These measures aim to improve safety in this particularly sensitive area of the circuit.
Hamilton finished 4th in this practice session, while Stroll ranked 19th, not having set a representative time due to frequent interruptions during the session.
