Doc 33 - Race Director's Competition Notes V3

Notices/Procedures

2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia - Race Director's Competition Notes V3

Document 33 | Date: 03 October 2026 | From: The FIA Formula 1 Race Director

General Instructions

  1. Laps during Qualifying & Reconnaissance Laps: Drivers must not exceed the maximum time from the Second Safety Car Line to the First Safety Car Line on any lap during/after qualifying to avoid driving unnecessarily slowly.
  2. Lapping during the Race:
    • Pre-warning at 3.0s via marshalling system.
    • Blue light panels, cockpit lights, and timing messages triggered at 1.2s. Drivers must let faster cars pass at the first available opportunity.

Competition Specific Instructions

  1. Parc Fermé: Permitted personnel must use the designated route for fitting cooling fans.
  2. Marshalling System:
    • Pit entry/exit is subject to sector marshalling states until crossing the marked blue line.
  3. Support Races:
    • Barriers no more than 3 meters from the garage. Pit stop gantry arms must be retracted.
  4. Practice Starts:
    • Allowed on the right-hand side of the pit exit road during Free Practice and reconnaissance laps (must not cross the white line separating pit exit from the circuit). Prohibited during Qualifying.
  5. Pit Lane Fast Lane / Inner Lane (Article B1.6.3d):
    • Cars must blend into the fast lane safely without impeding others. Overtaking in the fast/working lane is prohibited except for stopped cars with mechanical issues.
  6. Pit Entry and Exit Lines:
    • Specific bollards and painted lines mark entry. Team personnel must not cross the red line during live sessions.
  7. Stopping the Qualifying Session:
    • If interrupted with less than 90 seconds remaining, it will not be resumed.
  8. ERS Hazard Status:
    • Teams must send mechanics to the pit entry area near race control; they will be transported to the F1 car by car.
  9. Leaving the Garage:
    • No cars may enter the pit lane to proceed to pit exit until 5 minutes before the scheduled/announced start time.
  10. Grid Removals:
    • Via the gate adjacent to the start line.
  11. Race / Start Suspension:
    • Cars stop in the fast lane (first car near the last garage). Safety Car leaves pit lane and waits before Turn 12.
  12. Grid Panel Placement: Left-hand side of the grid.
  13. Grid Procedure: TTCS starting from the front of grid box #1 to the red line (SM signs).
  14. Light Panels: Double yellow on panel 8 will be mirrored on panel 7.
  15. Track Limits:
    • Turn 15: Failure to negotiate results in the lap time and immediately following lap time being invalidated. Dotted white line marks track edge at pit exit.
  16. Detection Line: Located at Safety Car Line 1 (not painted yellow; OT boards installed).
  17. Safety Car Procedures:
    • Waved yellow flags and "SC" boards will not be used. Messages ("SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED", "SAFETY CAR LIGHTS OFF") and trackside light panels ("SC" / green panel) will be utilized.

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