05 November 2023 , 06:00
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Max Verstappen slammed the FIA's "absolutely terrible" solution to the problem of Formula 1 drivers driving slowly or stopping at the end of the pit lane.
Several drivers, including Verstappen, blocked the end of the pit lane during qualifying at last weekend's Mexican Grand Prix. They avoided punishment, but the rules were changed to outlaw such behaviour in Brazil.
"As 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 pit lane," read the race director's pre-event notes, sent to every team and driver.
Instead, drivers were told that, after the pit lane exit, they could go slowly to make a gap ahead of them as long as they pulled to the left to let others by. And it worked by stopping cars from parking at the pit exit during qualifying.
But the narrowness of the pit exit in Brazil meant cars going past had to put their right wheels on the grass to get by. That, plus the fact cars will be moving very slowly on a part of the track where they are supposed to be going quicker, makes Verstappen think it's not such a good idea.
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"It was absolutely terrible," he said. "On this track, you have quite a long pit exit and there are some walls. But on some other tracks, if we implement this, you're driving very slowly onto a straight where people are passing with 300+ [km/h]. And you're maybe driving at 15, 20 to make a gap, which is extremely dangerous.
"For me, this doesn't work at all. It just creates even more trouble. I mean, look at what was happening [in qualifying] – people going on the grass, including myself, to try to pass cars. It's just a mess every single qualifying, you have like six to eight cars getting noted for driving too slow with the minimum time. I don't know what we're trying to achieve."
Lando Norris was told off on Saturday for going too slowly between the safety car lines, and that is his biggest issue with the current guidelines. "I got a reprimand this morning for two cars ahead of me coming out of the pit lane, or one crossing over the safety car line, and one coming out of the pit lane at the same time," he moaned.
"I can't overtake, otherwise I'm gonna be racing on a qualifying lap, which is stupid. So I have to back off, and therefore I'm below the minimum time, and I get a reprimand for that. It's just a silly thing – not that the stewards made the wrong decision, it's just a rule that shouldn't be, in my opinion, because I did absolutely nothing wrong.
"I didn't block anyone, I didn't get in anyone's way. I've just not overtaken and caused a race in qualifying and I got a reprimand for that. So, just silly things. People do go slowly and things like that, but if you're scared of it, just go out the pit lane earlier and avoid all the queuing."