2026 Hungarian Grand Prix - Document 42

From: The FIA Formula 1 Race Director
To: All Teams, All Officials
Date: 25 July 2026
Title: Race Director's Competition Notes V2

Notice: This document contains competition updates and specific instructions for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. Changes from V1 are marked in magenta in the original text.

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📋 Key Instructions & Procedures

1. Qualifying & Reconnaissance Laps

• Maximum Time Limit: Exceeding the maximum time from the Second Safety Car Line to the First Safety Car Line during/after Qualifying (including in-laps, out-laps, and reconnaissance laps) may be deemed unnecessarily slow. Maximum times will be announced after Practice 2.
• Circuit Rules: Applies to the entire circuit and pit lane (Articles B1.8.5 and B4.1.1). Investigations typically happen post-session.

2. Lapping During the Race

• Blue Flag Triggers:
  • 3.0s Warning: F1 marshalling system alerts the slower team.
  • 1.2s Warning: Blue light panels, cockpit lights, and timing screen messages activate; the slower car must yield at the first available opportunity.

3. Safety Car & Restarts

• Restart Pace (Art. B5.13.6): Once orange lights are extinguished, drivers must proceed smoothly without erratic acceleration, braking, or maneuvers endangering others.
• Resumption Point: Safety Car leaves the pit lane 1 minute before resumption and waits after Turn 7.

4. Pit Lane & ERS Safety

• ERS Safety Check: Teams must connect the umbilical and start telemetry data logging every morning immediately after covers are removed under parc fermé.
• Pit Lane Safety (Art. B1.6.2c): Personnel are only allowed immediately before working on a car. Access opens for all pass holders only after all cars finish and enter parc fermé (signaled by "ALL PASS HOLDERS MAY ACCESS THE PIT LANE").
• Fast Lane Rules: Cars must form a line in the fast lane when driving to the end of the pit lane and merge safely without impeding others.

5. Practice Starts & Track Limits

• FP2 Practice Starts: Drivers may complete two further laps after the end-of-session signal to perform practice starts on the grid.
• Track Limits (Turn 14): Failing to negotiate the exit of Turn 14 during any session may result in the invalidation of that lap time and the immediately following lap time.

6. Other Notable Rules

• Weighing: Top 10 drivers and those stopping on track must proceed directly to FIA scales without outside contact.
• Double Waved Yellow Flags: Passing through a double-waved yellow flag sector during Free Practice results in the deletion of that lap time.
• Circuit Changes: Asphalt repairs near Turns 1 & 12; TSP 15 moved; new TSP 16 added.