Doc 26 - Infringement - Car 63 - Pit Lane Incident

Infringements/DecisionsNotices/Procedures

Document 26 - Infringement - Car 63 - Pit Lane Incident

To: The Team Manager, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team From: The Stewards Date: 06 March 2026 Time: 20:38

Incident Details

  • No / Driver: 63 - George Russell
  • Competitor: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
  • Time of Incident: 16:00
  • Session: Practice 2
  • Fact: Pit Lane Incident with Car 41
  • Infringement: Breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 5b of the International Sporting Code.

Decision

  • Driver: Reprimand

Reason for Decision

The Stewards investigated an incident involving Car 41 (Arvid Lindblad) and Car 63 (George Russell) during Practice 2. Evidence reviewed included video, team radio, and in-car video.

Summary of Incident:

  • Car 41 was in the queue of cars in the fast lane, waiting to exit the pit lane.
  • Car 63 left its garage and attempted to join the fast lane, inching forward and stopping slightly ahead of Car 41, with a small portion of Car 63 jutting into the fast lane.
  • This resulted in Car 41 running over the front wing end plate of Car 63. No damage to Car 41 was reported.

FIA Regulations:

  • Appendix L Chapter IV of the FIA International Sporting Code, along with Race Director Competition Notes Item 15, states that cars in the fast lane have priority over those in the working lane. Therefore, Car 41 had priority over Car 63.
  • Car 63 was only permitted to blend into the fast lane if there was a suitable and safe gap, without impeding cars already in the fast lane.

Stewards' Finding:

  • There was no suitable gap for Car 63 to join the fast lane, and its forward movement blocked a portion of the fast lane, leading to the collision.
  • Both drivers agreed that the driver of Car 41 could not have seen the blocking portion of Car 63.
  • The collision could have been avoided had Car 63 taken appropriate action.

Conclusion: Based on the evidence and regulations, the Stewards imposed a reprimand on the driver of Car 63, George Russell, for failing to take appropriate action and impeding Car 41 in the pit lane fast lane.

Stewards

  • Nish Shetty
  • Pedro Lamy
  • Mathieu Remmerie
  • Matthew Selley

Competitors have the right to appeal this decision in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules within the specified time limits. Decisions are made independently by the FIA and are based solely on presented regulations, guidelines, and evidence.

Latest Documents