FIA clarifies Australian GP pit lane speed limit stays at 80 km/h

The FIA confirmed Tuesday that the pit lane speed limit for this year’s Australian Grand Prix will stay at 80 km/h, quashing a circulating report that it would be cut to 60 km/h to ease congestion from a new 11th entry. The clarification arrives just days before the season‑opening race at Albert Park, where defending winner Lando Norris will line up.

Why it matters:

• Safety – A lower limit would force tighter braking zones, raising the risk of rear‑end collisions in an already crowded pit lane.
• Strategy – A 20 km/h reduction would lengthen pit‑stop windows, forcing teams to rethink tyre‑change timing and fuel‑load calculations.

The details:

• Tom Mottram, the Australian GP’s chief events officer, told staff the limit would be cut to 60 km/h to manage extra congestion from the 11th team.
• The plan was presented as a “once‑off” measure, pending assessment of how the additional car affected pit‑lane traffic.
• FIA officials reviewed the proposal and, citing safety data and existing regulations, decided to keep the limit at 80 km/h.

What's next:

• The season‑opening sprint weekend will proceed with the standard 80 km/h limit, meaning teams can stick to pre‑season pit‑stop simulations.
• If the grid expands further or pit‑lane incidents rise, the FIA has pledged to revisit the limit before the next race.
• Lando Norris, the defending Albert Park champion, will focus on tyre strategy rather than adjusting to a new speed cap.