Pit lane qualifying queues are a necessary evil, say drivers · F1 · RaceFans
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The sight of Formula 1 drivers queueing in the pit lane during qualifying sessions is likely to become a fixture.
Drivers have taken to lining up in the fast lane of the pits as a result of changes made to the qualifying rules last year. They require drivers to adhere to a maximum time between flying laps, reducing their opportunity to slow down on the track and create space to cars ahead. They are instead doing this in the pits before they leave.
Further attempts to improve the rules were proposed for this weekend but scrapped after the first day of running. The top three qualifiers yesterday agreed the current arrangement is the best solution to the problem, despite the queueing it creates in the pits.
“I think this is the safest way to go about it,” said Max Verstappen. “It’s probably not ideal, but I prefer that the cars are stopping in the pit lane than on the straight or in the last corner.
“So at the moment, this is, I think, the best solution. But we keep on trying to look at things to make it better.”
Charles Leclerc said he “completely agrees” with Verstappen.
FIA race director Niels Wittich originally announced a change to the rules this weekend, which would require drivers to follow a maximum time between the mini-sectors around the lap. But Leclerc said drivers did not like the change.
“The FIA came up with a new system yesterday which I think wasn’t exactly what we wanted,” he explained. “We all asked to come back to the system of last year.
“So it’s an ongoing process where we try to find the best solution. As Max said, I think you have to slow down at one point and it’s much better to do it in the pit lane than on track. So I think it’s the best solution we have at the moment.”
George Russell was investigated for failing to follow the rules but later cleared. He also said he prefers the regulations as they are.
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Read More: Pit lane qualifying queues are a necessary evil, say drivers · F1 · RaceFans 2024-03-02 08:48:59