FIA lowers pit-lane speed limit ahead of Hungarian GP

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has confirmed a change in the pit-lane speed limit for the race ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. This decision will see the speed limit remain at 80Km/h for the whole race weekend, after an FOM cameraman was struck on the head by a loose wheel during the German Grand Prix last time out.

The alteration of the sport’s rules comes after the World Motor Sport Council voted in favour of the changes, which were originally planned to be introduced next season. Usually the pit-lane speed limit for the race is 100Km/h, with the rest of the weekend at 80Km/h. These new rules will see the speed limit remain at the lower 80Km/h, therefore preventing such an incident which occurred at the German Grand Prix after Mark Webber was released from his pit-box with his right-rear tyre loose, which subsequently worked its way completely loose and bowled over an FOM cameraman.

These new rulings by the FIA will mean that the overall length of a pit-stop will increase, with cars running through the pits at a considerably slower pace than beforehand. This in turn could create strategic headaches for the many of the teams, forcing a rethink in the amount of pit-stops carried out during a race. The FIA has also confirmed that it will become mandatory for all team personnel working on a car in the pits to wear helmets, adding yet another precaution to avoid head injuries within the freneticism in the pit-lane.

Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team