The FIA stewards have issued a stern warning to all the F1 drivers about how track limits will be monitored in the opening lap of the Mexico City GP. With Lap 1 of the race often being a chaotic state of affairs, race control has decided to make sure they stay on top of things even before the race goes green.
Per the official statement issued, the stewards will be keeping a particularly close eye on the complex of Turns 1-3 and Turns 4-6. With both series of corners being regular flashpoints for off-track excursions resulting in drivers gaining an advantage, race control has stated that any such incidents will have a lasting impact on the driver’s race.
To avoid the implications, the driver in question will have to hand the place back by a specific reference point further along in the lap. Per the official statement, all the cars will by default be considered to be in an attacking as well as a defending state on lap one and during any restarts.
The stewards have made it clear that any car found guilty of running wide in these situations and unwilling to hand the place back will by default be considered in violation of the regulation. They will be taken as having gained a lasting advantage, and the margin for ambiguity through the opening part of the race appears narrower than in some of the previous races on the track.
Famous Opening-Lap Incidents That Set Mexico City GP Ablaze
Mexico City has always been a hotspot in terms of opening lap incidents in F1. Wheel-to-wheel battles, aggressive overtakes, and collisions are the norm at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez thanks to the long run down to Turn 1, which quickly transforms into a narrow turn complex.
One of the most famous opening lap incidents happened in 2016, when Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg ran off track. While Hamilton had locked up under braking, Rosberg had gone wide after battling Max Verstappen into Turn 1.
Ultimately, both drivers cut grass and escaped serious consequences, but the incident immediately sparked debate about track limits and the stewards’ decisions.
Another incident came in 2021, when Daniel Ricciardo locked up under braking and collided with Valtteri Bottas. The incident sent Bottas spinning, while Ricciardo suffered damage to his front wing. Although both drivers were able to continue the race, their overall outing was effectively ruined.
One of the most heartbreaking moments came in 2023, when Sergio Perez crashed out of his home race on the opening lap. In an attempt to seize the race lead, he made an ambitious move round the outside of Turn 1, but made contact with Charles Leclerc that sent him airborne. The damage sustained from the incident was enough for the Mexican driver to retire from the race immediately.
Owing to these and many more similar incidents, the FIA has decided to strengthen its grip on driver infringements in Mexico City. And while it remains to be seen how many (if any) penalties are handed out on the opening lap, the stewards have already shown that there won’t be any leniency this time.
Liam Lawson Disqualified From Mexico City GP Qualifying
Racing Bulls had a positive qualifying session on Saturday in Mexico City, but the team’s progress was quickly halted by race control. Liam Lawson, who had originally qualified in P8 for the main race, was summoned by the stewards for a technical infringement.
Per race control, the New Zealander had failed to meet the MGU-K ramp-down requirements after completing his fastest Q2 lap. The No. 30 driver had reportedly lost all his battery, and therefore, he failed to slow down in accordance with what the law states.
While the stewards agreed that the incident handed no performance advantage to the team, they deemed that it was still a technical breach, and the punishment for it was a disqualification. As a result, Lawson will now be starting the Mexico City GP from the last row.
More F1 Reading
- Kimi Antonelli Admits Being ‘More Tense Than Usual’ As He Chases Championship Glory in Mexico City
- Esteban Ocon Rejects Physical Violence Speculation After Shock Replacement by Haas in Mexico
- Liam Lawson Disqualified From Mexico City GP Qualifying Over MGU-K Infringement
- Lewis Hamilton Stands Out in Reaching Out to Esteban Ocon After Haas Exit
Comments
More in News
Kimi Antonelli Admits Being ‘More Tense Than Usual’ As He Chases Championship Glory in Mexico City
Esteban Ocon Rejects Physical Violence Speculation After Shock Replacement by Haas in Mexico
Liam Lawson Disqualified From Mexico City GP Qualifying Over MGU-K Infringement
Lewis Hamilton Stands Out in Reaching Out to Esteban Ocon After Haas Exit
