Crossing the checkered flag is an achievement for a driver but also for the mechanics and engineers that are part of his team.
For this reason, like when a soccer player climbs a fence to celebrate a goal, in motorsports the custom is to climb the pit wall to shake his right fist as the winning car passes by.
However,
that traditional and historic celebration will end in Formula 1 from this Sunday
.
In Albert Park, where the Australian Grand Prix
will be held from this Friday
, those who get on to celebrate on the defense that separates the track from the pit lane will be penalized, as announced to the teams by the F1 race director, Niels Wittich.
"Climbing the pitwall fence at any time is prohibited
," was the message the teams received in the run-up to the race.
The decision, as reported, is due to what happened two weeks ago at the
Saudi Arabian GP
, where members of the Red Bull teams were seen on the fence of the Jeddah street circuit (Checo Pérez and Max Verstappen made it 1-2). and Aston Martin, after Fernando Alonso finished third, a position that was confirmed after twists and turns regarding a penalty.
Something similar had happened on the first date of the season, in Bahrain
.
However, Wittich's decision is not revolutionary:
it will only enforce what the FIA International Sporting Code says
.
Article 2.3.2 of Appendix H specifies that
"personnel are prohibited from climbing the pitwall fences at any time. Any action by a team in breach of this prohibition will be reported to the stewards.
"
It is they, ultimately, who will decide
if it is necessary to impose a sanction
, which will in no way be sporting but could be economic in F1 with budget limits from 2021.
Russell on the Melbourne frontstretch, an impossible to climb pitwall.
Photo REUTERS/Loren Elliott
There it is also clarified that "team personnel are only authorized in the pitlane immediately before they are asked to work on a car and must leave as soon as the work has been completed."
The objective of this new position is none other than
security
.
Because?
Due to the possibility of a person falling onto the track where the cars go at more than 300 km/h and also the possibility that someone hanging on the pitwall could drop some element that could damage the drivers at speed.
What the members of the teams will be able to do is
look through the largest holes in the pit wall protection systems
, which are none other than those necessary openings and arranged to show the drivers blackboards, for example with their lap times. lap.
An important fact is that the race chosen by F1 to remember this rule is one that takes place on a circuit with FIA Grade 1 certification where the main straight is lined
with thick glass panels and not with metal fences with bars
, so no footholds exist, making Melbourne
an unscalable pitwall
.
look too
Formula 1: last-minute change in the starting boxes in Australia to avoid sanctions
The Vettel-Webber war and the Multi 21: Red Bull already knows how to deal with friendly fire
