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The recent investigations into Max Verstappen and George Russell at the Mexican Grand Prix have prompted the FIA to introduce a new rule. With immediate effect, drivers will now be banned from stopping at the end of the pit lane\u2019s \u2018fast lane\u2019 during qualifying sessions.<\/p>\n
This has become a prevalent issue in 2023 with drivers stopping at the end of the pit lane and backing up other drivers in order to create a significant enough gap to the cars in front during their qualifying out laps.<\/p>\n
Verstappen and Russell were both guilty of doing this during qualifying for the Mexican GP, attracting criticism from other drivers and team principals after creating traffic jams in the pit lane.<\/p>\n
However, their antics were prompted by another relatively fresh FIA rule change, which has mandated drivers to be within a maximum lap time threshold during out laps in qualifying. This directive was brought in to combat the qualifying traffic jams that have posed a major safety issue for years in F1.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive F1 news.<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Max Verstappen’s Brazilian GP comments will be music to Lewis Hamilton’s ears[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n Announcing the change in his race notes ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, race director Niels Wittich explained: \u201cAs per article 33.4 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, drivers are not allowed to go unnecessarily slow, that includes stopping a car in the fast lane of the pitlane.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring Shootout and Qualifying, drivers may create a gap between the pit exit lights and the SC2 line. Any driver who wishes to do so must drive as far to the left as possible to allow other drivers to pass them on the right side of the pit exit road.\u201d<\/p>\n This news will come as a frustration to Verstappen, who made his feelings clear after being placed under and then cleared of any investigation by the stewards in Mexico. The reigning world champion suggested that it was a necessary evil to create a sufficient gap between the cars in front.<\/p>\n More F1… <\/strong>
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