Because of how qualifying works in Formula 1 now and drivers need to increase the gap between themselves when exiting the pits, rather than slowing down on the track, There have been repeated problems when they are at the exit of the pit lane.
However, no driver wants to stay at the back of the train of cars because they run the risk of not being able to start their lap, so there can be fights for position in the pit lane, with the great danger that this entails.
Monte Carlo is the shortest circuit of the season, and avoiding traffic is a big plus when it comes to setting a time, so the situation is expected to be very tense tomorrow, Saturday.
In an attempt to avoid these problems, Niels Wittich has introduced new guidelines that should provide some more clarity on the order in which cars are lined up at the exit of the pit lane.
If a queue of cars is created at the end of the pit lane, the rules make it clear that Drivers have to exit in the order in which they entered the fast lane.
However, this has been quite problematic in the past, with cars at the back of the pits sometimes trying to overtake to avoid being forced to wait for all the cars to pass.
For this weekend, Wittich has said that a driver can only enter the fast lane if his front wheel has crossed the yellow line..
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
In the revised event notes for the Monaco GP, Wittich said: “It is noted that a car will be considered to be ‘in the fast lane’ when a tire has crossed the solid line.” [amarilla] that separates the fast lane from the inside lane, in this context crossing means that the entire tire must be beyond the line that separates the fast lane from the inside lane.
Beyond the usual recommendation that drivers should merge into the fast lane as soon as possible, without impeding others, he also said that pilots will have the right to take advantage of a gap if it is created.
Wittich added: “Therefore, after the start or resumption of a free practice session, a qualifying session or a sprint qualifying session, if there is a suitable gap in a queue of cars in the fast lane, so that a driver can enter safely and without unnecessarily impeding cars that are already in the fast lane, they are free to do so.
The new rules should ensure that drivers wait until they are satisfied there is a gap so they can get their entire front wheel over the line, rather than simply waiting for a rival to let them pass to avoid a collision.
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