FIA to review procedures after pit-lane ‘shambles’ in Baku

BAKU – Formula One’s governing body has promised an immediate review of procedures after mechanics and photographers were in the fast lane when Alpine’s Esteban Ocon pitted at the end of Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Stewards said in a statement they had summoned representatives of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after the “very dangerous” last-lap incident.

“We noted that it was not unusual for the representatives to allow such persons into the pit lane just before the end of the race, in the usual course of preparation for parc ferme and the podium ceremony,” they said.

“However, in this case, there was one driver that had to pit in the last lap and this created a very dangerous situation for those that were in the pit lane at the time.

“We considered that it was fortunate that there were no serious consequences on account of what happened today.”

The stewards said the FIA must “take immediate steps” to reconsider procedures and protocols and ensure the situation did not happen again.

“The FIA representatives expressed their regret at what happened and assured us that they would do so in time for the next event,” the statement added.

The fifth race of the season is in Miami on Sunday.

Frenchman Ocon, who started in the pit lane, had left it until the very end to make his mandatory tyre change and spoke of his shock at the “scary moment”.

“Fortunately, nothing happened, but we must make sure these scenarios don’t happen again,” he said.

“Not something we want to see. I don’t understand why the people are prepping the podium while we are still racing in the pit lane.

 “It was a very, very close moment, I’m arriving at 300kmh, braking at the last moment, and I’m seeing people around. It’s definitely something that needs to be changed.”

Sky Sports television commentators called the scenes, with a throng of people already in the pit lane as the car arrived, “an absolute shambles”.

The photographers were gathered in front of the parc ferme area where the top three finishers park after the slowing-down lap, while mechanics were celebrating on the pit wall.

Race director Niels Wittich had warned teams at the previous race in Australia that they risked punishment if personnel climb pit-wall fences to celebrate as their drivers took the chequered flag.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, whose drivers Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen finished first and second respectively, said the mechanics had their feet on the wall and had not climbed any fences.

But he agreed that the situation with photographers needed to be looked into.

“That needs a review because Esteban’s within his right to pit on the last lap. That’s something the FIA needs to police a little better before the end of the race,” he said.

Helped by a safety car period that fell in his favour after Verstappen had pitted, Perez made the most of his good fortune to take a sixth career victory and become the first driver to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a second time.

The Mexican is now six points behind Verstappen with two wins each after four races.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who started on pole position for the third year in a row in Baku, finished a distant third for his team’s first podium appearance of the campaign, with George Russell claiming the fastest lap for Mercedes. REUTERS, AFP