Lando Norris has blasted F1 bosses for introducing a “terrible rule” at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA has banned overtaking at pit exit after a series of incidents throughout the season, including a flashpoint between Max Verstappen and the Mercedes drivers on Friday.
During the second practice session, world champion Verstappen was caught up behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the pit lane and accused the Mercedes duo of trying to squeeze him towards the wall as the Dutchman navigated his way through the traffic. Cars parking themselves at the end of the pit lane in practice and qualifying is not a new problem, with drivers seeking to enter the track with an ideal window between those in front and behind.
That is because they are required to work within a maximum lap time, or delta, to prevent cars moving slowly on track to generate clear air for a flying lap. That led to the FIA allowing overtaking at the pit exit, but they reversed that rule after Friday’s incident between Red Bull and Mercedes.
However, drivers have been hugely critical of the decision, including McLaren’s Norris, who believes there is a fatal flaw with the change of regulations if it carries on into next season. In the case of a red flag late in a qualifying session, the move to prevent drivers from overtaking at the pit exit will limit the number of drivers able to complete a flying lap once the session restarts.
“I think it’s a terrible rule,” Norris told Planet F1. “The thing is, they have to have the rule because of the other silly rule that they made us do. The thing is, if it’s a red flag and there’s three minutes left, there’s going to be like three cars that get to do a lap. We should just go back to the way it was before.”
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso is sick of the FIA’s tinkering, too. He believes the incremental changes to regulations over the years have made qualifying sessions “obsolete” and dramatically reduced the entertainment for fans.
“Exits did not help or make things worse,” the Spaniard said at the season finale. “It didn’t change much, but it proves that the qualifying format is obsolete.
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“This session used to be the best session of the weekend where the cars, they come alive. You drive these very fast cars and now it’s the worst session of the weekend. For the teams, for drivers, for traffic management, for track limits.
“Going to the stewards, not respecting the delta, impeding people, deleting the laps. We are all happy that it’s over and it shouldn’t be like that.”
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