In the wake of Verstappen’s third-place finish at Monte Carlo, won by Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez, both drivers found themselves subject to a Ferrari protest for crossing the pit exit line.
During the initial change of tires on a damp but drying track, both were seen by onboard footage towards the yellow pitlane exit line, which drivers are not allowed to cross.
Following complaints from Ferrari, the FIA stewards investigated the matter after the race and ultimately decided that neither driver had committed any offense.
The decision to evict Verstappen was due to a change of wording in the FIA’s International Sporting Code for 2022, which stipulated a driver ‘must not cross the line’ when exiting the pit lane.
The stewards said at the time: “In this case, the car did not “cross” the line – to do so it would have required a full wheelie to the left of the yellow line.”
The FIA’s interpretation of the meaning of ‘crossing’ the line caused some disquiet among drivers, as effectively they were given a green light to move one wheel wide across the lines if necessary to defend positions. Can flow This had potentially serious security implications.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, the FIA duly held discussions over the winter and has now corrected the wording of its International Sporting Code relating to the matter.
These amendments were approved by the World Motor Sport Council this week and communicated to teams and drivers ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
New wording has been added to the relevant addendum to the ISC to clarify that the line-crossing limit is now calculated on the basis of the outer edge of the tyre.
The FIA states: “For the avoidance of doubt, crossing means the outside of any tire not to go beyond the outside with respect to the pitlane of the corresponding line painted on the track.”
In the relevant section, words have also been added regarding pitlane entry lines which the drivers are also not allowed to cross.
To further emphasize what is considered acceptable, F1 race director Niels Wittich presented a drawing in his pre-race event notes in Bahrain, outlining where the new limits are.