Should Sainz have received a penalty for crossing the pit entry line?

[chrisc90]

Noticed it on the live stream that Sainz in the battle with Leclerc and Hamilton quite obviously used the pit entry, then drove off track to rejoin the circuit.

Heres the clip:



Heres the race directors event notes, which determines the start/entry to the pitlane




And the rules from the ISC article L.


Now I see no reason that there could be any Force Majeure on that?

Did our new Race director slip up by not even noting it? Should McLaren have protested the result on the possibility a penalty was missed?

[TFSA]

It's not illegal to cross the pit entry line (which is not a part of the pit entry btw - it's a part of the race track itself) if you don't pit, unless otherwise stated so in the event notes. After all, if two cars are racing side by side past the pit entry, one of them might have to cross it out on the race track in their battle.

It's only illegal to cross it if you do pit - this is to avoid drivers suddenly cutting across the track to pit at the very last minute, which can be dangerous.

EDIT:
A great example here is Canada. It's almost impossible for drivers to not cross the pit entry line there if they aren't pitting. So obviously it's allowed.

[lio007]

Here's a good explanation why nothing happened:
https://www.racefans.net/2024/11/24/why ... explained/

The FIA’s rules over pit entry are governed by their International Sporting Code, Appendix L, Chapter 4, Article 4 (d). This states that “except in cases of force majeure… any part of a tyre of a car entering the pit lane must not cross, in any direction, any line painted on the track for the purpose of separating cars entering the pit lane from those on the track.”

While Sainz’s tyres clearly crossed the dividing line between the pit entry and the race track, Sainz did not commit a breach as he never entered the pit lane. Had Sainz crossed the dividing line and still entered the pit lane to complete his pit stop, that would likely have resulted in a penalty.

[TFSA]

--- Discard this post, i didn't read the article linked properly. The explanation given was correct ---

[chrisc90]

But the ISC states that no part of the tyre may cross the line that designates the entry to the pitlane.

[TFSA]

But the ISC states that no part of the tyre may cross the line that designates the entry to the pitlane.

"Pit Lane" - not the "Pit Entry Road". Read section A.

Sainz wasn't anywhere near the pit lane itself. He was about to enter the "pit entry road", but abandoned that.

The pit lane is where the drivers have to adhere to the speed limit. It comes after the pit entry road.

The ISC rule is about when you cross into and out of the pit lane itself. There you can't cross the line.

[chrisc90]

But the ISC states that no part of the tyre may cross the line that designates the entry to the pitlane.

"Pit Lane" - not the "Pit Entry Road". Read section A.

Sainz wasn't anywhere near the pit lane itself. He was about to enter the "pit entry road", but abandoned that.

The pit lane is where the drivers have to adhere to the speed limit. It comes after the pit entry road.

Correct, but section D refers to section A.

You can see the pit lane section in the screenshot below.

[TFSA]

Correct, but section D refers to section A.

You can see the pit lane section in the screenshot below.

Yes, but section D only applies to cars actually entering the pit lane (pitting).

If Sainz pits, and he crossed the line, then it's a penalty.

But he didn't pit. So he's allowed to cross the line because he stayed out.

[chrisc90]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/why-l ... 1694795823

Few other examples of it occuring.

[PapayaFan481]

There are some races where the Race Director will specifically tell drivers that they must pit if they enter the pit entry lane - Austria I think is one IIRC - because it would be a danger to other drivers due to the track layout.

That itself implies that it is fine at other races.