FIA releases new regulations for a safer pitstopRed Bull

FIA brings measures to slow down F1 pit stops from Hungarian GP

F1 pit stops are slowed down by the FIA on safety grounds ahead of the Hungarian GP

The FIA is set to bring regulations in place which will slow down pit stops in Formula One. The change is being brought in with safety as its main priority and also the involvement of automation in the pitstop process. The pitstop has been under the FIA’s observation after addressing complaints that some teams are performing faster stops than can be achieved by following the current rules set by the FIA.

Article 12.8.4 states that : “Devices which are used to fit or remove wheel fasteners may only be powered by compressed air or nitrogen. Any sensor systems may only act passively.”

According to the FIA, sensors are only to aid pitstops passivelyMercedes AMG F1

It is the latter part of the regulation that the FIA wants to clamp down on. The purpose of passive sensor system directive is to ensure that the wheel nuts are properly tightened during a pit stop. The aim of the FIA is to remove clear reliance of pit crews on automatic procedures which in turn, could open up potential dangers at pit stops.

Red Bull's two second pitstops have raised the eyebrows with competitorsRed Bull

The FIA has sent out a notice to the Formula One teams ahead of the Austrian GP stating that the pit stop procedure must have a tolerance procedure in place that allows for human reaction times for signaling ahead of the Hungarian GP in August.

Under the new technical directives regulations for pit stops, mechanics have to maintain a minimum time reaction. A minimum of 0.15 seconds signal gap has to be adhered to every action in the process . For safety reasons, the FIA expects the minimum time offset between the initiation of the jack release procedure and the OK signal to the driver given by the green light to be at least 0.2 seconds.