The FIA has outlined the procedures it has in place in the event of a lightning risk at the Miami Grand Prix.
Extremely wet weather conditions have hit the Miami track in the last number of hours, forcing the cancellation of the F1 Academy support race.
The dramatic weather is set to play a role in the race, with the formation lap due at 16:00.
The FIA has recognised there is a possibility that lightning strikes at the circuit during the event, posing a threat to public safety.
As a result, it has communicated the procedures it will carry out in the event it is forced to take action.
The race will be suspended in accordance with Article 57 of the Sporting Regulations, all cars must return to the pit lane and stop in the fast lane as described in Article 57.2.
Once all cars have returned to the pit lane, Teams will be informed using the official messaging system that cars must be pushed from the fast lane and returned to the teams’ garages. Garage doors must remain open until otherwise instructed. For the avoidance of doubt, any car which was in their garage at the time the race was suspended, or that is moved from the fast lane to any other part of the pit lane without or prior to such instruction being given will be arranged at the back of the line of cars before the resumption in accordance with Article 57.3 or 57.5 respectively.
Whilst the cars are in the teams’ garage the provisions of Article 57.4 shall apply. For the avoidance of doubt, cars may be worked on once they have stopped in the fast lane, whilst they are positioned in the teams’ garage, or once they have returned to the fast lane prior to the resumption, but any such work is restricted to that listed in Articles 57.4b) i) to x) and must not impede the resumption of the race.
Once the Race Director is satisfied it is safe to resume the race, and no less than 18 minutes prior to the expected re-start time, the re-start order will be published. At such time, under the direct supervision and instruction of the FIA Technical Delegate or their representative:
- Each Team will be instructed, in turn, to push their car(s) into the fast lane such that cars may be arranged in the fast lane in accordance with the published re- start order.
- Once all cars included in the re-start order are arranged in the fast lane, any car not included in the re-start order will be released from their garage and may line up at the back of the queue of cars in the fast lane in the order they get there.
- Once all cars are arranged in the fast lane or have been given the opportunity to join the back of the queue in the fast lane, the resumption time will be announced using the official messaging system. In all cases at least ten (10) minutes warning will be given. From this point the race will be resumed in accordance with Article 58 of the Sporting Regulations.
Should it then become neeccessary to enact the 'shelter in place' procedures while the cars are on the grid during the race start procedure, the following will occur.
The start will be delayed in accordance with Article 46 of the Sporting Regulations.
Teams will be informed using the official messaging system that all cars, on the grid or at the end of the pit lane, must be pushed from their location and returned to the teams’ garages. Garage doors must remain open until otherwise instructed.
Once the Race Director is satisfied it is safe to resume the starting procedure, Teams will be informed using the official messaging system that cars must be pushed from their garage and returned to their allocated grid positions. Cars that were returned to their garage from the end of the pit lane may be pushed back to the end of the pit lane and must line up in the order they were in when the delayed start was announced.
- When all cars have been returned to the grid, or to the end of the pit lane, the starting procedure will begin again at the ten (10) minute signal.
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