F1 Race Director Niels Wittich has used his Azerbaijan Grand Prix event notes – sent to all drivers and teams – to clarify rules regarding the line that separates the pit exit from the race track. During the Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was adjudged to have touched the yellow line with his front-left tyre as he re-joined the damp track on dry tyres. That resulted in a protest being launched by Ferrari, who pointed to the wording Race Director Eduardo Freitas had chosen in his event notes for Monte Carlo, stating that drivers must "keep to the right of the solid yellow line". However, Verstappen escaped without punishment, with Chapter 4, Article 4 and 5 of Appendix L of the International Sporting Code (ISC) stating that the Dutchman's tyre would have had to "cross" the line for him to be at risk of a penalty.
Wittich clarifies rules ahead of Baku race
Ahead of the race weekend in Baku, Wittich has clarified that drivers must adhere to the rules of the ISC when it comes to the pit exit and pit entry line. He writes: "In accordance with Chapter 4, Article 4 and 5 of Appendix L to the ISC, drivers must follow the procedures at pit entry and pit exit." That is a clear change of wording from Freitas' pre-Monaco event notes and would suggest, given the decision of the stewards in Monte Carlo, that drivers can touch the pit exit line but not "cross" it when re-joining the race track.
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