F1 Scraps Driver Pit Lane Ruling

F1 is to scrap the controversial rule that saw drivers penalised for going into the pit lanes early while the safety car was deployed.

Formula One Management, the sport’s governing body, has decided the axe the legislation meaning that instead, the pits will be kept open, with software regulating drivers’ speeds as they enter the pit lane.

The rule was introduced initially in 2007 to stop drivers going through an accident zone at speed to get back to the pits and refuel while the safety car was out.

Last season, several races were affected by the safety car rule. In the opening race in Australia, McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen had to pit for fuel and tyres while the safety car was out and subsequently dropped to the back of the pack. He did manage to recover and finish fifth.

Similar incidents affected Nick Heidfeld, Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso at various stages of the season.

Commented F1 race director Charlie Whiting: ‘The rule introduced in 2007 was bad. When we deploy the safety car, the message will go to all the cars, which will then have a ‘safety car’ mode on their ECUs (electronic control units).

‘As soon as that message gets to the car, it will know where it is on the circuit, and it will calculate a minimum time for the driver to get back to the pits.

‘The driver will have to respect this and the information will be displayed on his dashboard.’