George Russell expressed his surprise and "scare" after a pit lane incident involving Oscar Piastri during the second free practice session at the Zandvoort GP, an event that led to a stewards' investigation.
Why it matters
Pit lane safety is paramount in Formula 1. This incident, while minor, highlights the potential for dangerous situations even at low speeds and led to a fine for the McLaren team.
The incident
During FP2, following a red flag caused by Alexander Albon, drivers returned to the pits. Oscar Piastri briefly entered the wrong pit lane bay, forcing George Russell, who was approaching from behind, to swerve sharply to avoid a major collision. The two cars made slight contact. The FIA stewards subsequently investigated the matter, issuing McLaren a 5,000 fine for dangerous driving.
Russell's reaction
Speaking after the session, Russell admitted the unexpected nature of the incident caught him off guard. "I think he pulled in too early then pulled back out. A bit unfortunate," Russell stated. "It scared me a bit. When you’re on track, you’re ready for anything but when you’re in the pit lane going relatively slow, you’re chilling out then suddenly ‘geez!’ and it caught me out by surprise."
Session outcome
Despite the scare, both drivers completed the session without further issues. Russell secured the fourth-fastest time, nearly four tenths behind session leader Lando Norris. Piastri finished just behind his teammate in third, showing strong pace. Fernando Alonso also impressed, continuing his competitive form from Hungary.