Sporting regulations: grandstand or fast lane?

Audi’s opportunism poorly rewarded

We are Sunday, July 25, 2021 at the ExCel London, live on televisions all around the world. While all the drivers are driving at reduced speed behind the safety car, Lucas Di Grassi dives into the pit lane. Moving then in eighth position, he seems to say goodbye to the points promised to him. However, a few corners later, we find him at the head of the pack. Watching the replays will be necessary to understand what really happened.

Seeing the Safety Car imposing a very slow pace on the competitors, Audi actually asks Di Grassi to go through the pit lane to save time. Unfortunately, the execution is faulty: in the rush, the Brazilian driver’s car does not make a complete stop in front of his pit box. The rule is clear: in these conditions, drivers are only allowed to enter the pit lane if they stop at their pit box. After studying data such as the wheel speeds of car number 11, its driver will be handed a drive-through penalty and ultimately a black flag, having not served the initial penalty.

The (almost) pit stop of Di Grassi:

UNSEEN FOOTAGE!@Lucasdigrassi almost pulled off an audacious move after nipping through the pitlane to grab the lead during a safety car period.

But it was ruled he didn’t come to a stop before exiting the pit and was black flagged for declining a drive-through penalty. pic.twitter.com/DeXEI11K0V

— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 25, 2021

Like a feeling of déjà vu

Experts in the field will not be mistaken: this is not the first time that teams have tried to use the pit lane as a shortcut to gain positions. During the sixth race of the 2019/2020 season in Berlin, three cars took the risk. Successfully this time. It was the Nissan of Buemi and the two Mahindra of Lynn and Ambrosio.

During the first race of a six-race meeting, due to the Covid epidemic, the three men had taken the pit lane under Full Course Yellow (FCY) conditions. This was made possible by the fact that the maximum speed to be observed under FCY was equal to that of the pit limiter. Even by stopping at the pit stop, which was already mandatory, they had managed to save time and gain positions in the process without the stewards finding anything to complain about. Before the next race, the maximum speed allowed in the pit lane had been reduced by 15km/h to prevent this from happening again.

A redesign is necessary

By counting Werhlein’s disqualification in Puebla, it is the second time this season that the car declared winner is not the one that crossed the finish line first. This complicates the reading of the race for the spectators, which is obviously not desirable. Thus, after the London episode, the FIA has decided to tighten the rules for the Berlin final on August 14-15.