Mika Hakkinen urges the FIA to take action after three consecutive pit incidents

The double world champion of F1 in 1998 and 1999, Mika Hakkinen, discussed the incident that injured a Ferrari mechanic during Kimi Räikkönen’s pit stop in Bahrain in an interview with the sports betting site Unibet.

The flying Finn wants to alert the authorities about the dangers of such a quick procedure and the difficult burden on the mechanics: The accident in the pits showed the risks involved in such a routine procedure, which usually takes less than three seconds. No one should underestimate the challenge faced by the mechanics in the pits. These guys train every day, work hard, and put in a tremendous effort to allow for the best possible stops.

The former McLaren driver then reflects on his personal experience at a time when automated systems had not yet been implemented: « When I was racing, McLaren used a ‘lollipop man’ to signal the end of the pit stop and to indicate when I could safely restart from my position. Now, of course, teams use automated systems with a red light and a green light, and we have seen some issues at this level this season. »

One of Michael Schumacher’s favorite adversaries believes that the two incidents at Haas in Australia and then the one with Ferrari in Bahrain should prompt teams and the FIA to question the effectiveness of automated systems: « The Haas team experienced two disasters in Melbourne because the green light came on before the procedure was complete, and Kimi had the same problem last Sunday. Except this time, the left rear wheel hadn’t even been removed from the car yet, and the mechanic was in front of it when Kimi released the clutch. »

Hakkinen ensures that it is the FIA’s duty to ensure the safety of the personnel involved in the pits at the time when the Halo system was imposed to protect the drivers: « Considering how essential safety is in Formula 1, including after the introduction of the Halo this year, it is important that the teams and the FIA re-examine the pit stops. »

To conclude, the Nordic thinks that pit stops should be retained but need to be reconsidered: « They are a very important part of the show in Formula 1, so I don’t want them to disappear, but perhaps it’s time to ask if automated systems are the best way to proceed. When human lives are at stake, authorities should make decisions. »