The FIA will carry out an immediate review into protocol and procedure after a near-miss involving Esteban Ocon at Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Ocon came in at the end of the penultimate lap at the Baku City Circuit in order to carry out his mandatory stop, having extended his stint on Hard tyres.
As he did so FIA personnel were setting up an area at the start of the pit lane for parc ferme, with some personnel standing in the fast lane of the pit lane.
Those people in the fast lane swiftly moved out of the way of the oncoming Ocon but post-race stewards summoned FIA representatives to discuss the matter.
It was determined that the relevant representatives ‘took steps to set up the parc ferme area and also permitted media and other personnel to gather in the start of the pit lane and the pit wall during the last lap of the race, while the pit lane was open and before the final pit stop of Ocon’.
Stewards noted that ‘it was not unusual for the representatives to allow such persons in the pit lane just before the end of the race, in the usual course of preparation for parc ferme and the podium ceremony’.
However, it was outlined that a ‘very dangerous situation’ was created and ‘it was fortunate that there were no serious consequences on account of what happened’.
The FIA and the stewards walked through the relevant procedures and protocol and the governing body was told to ‘take immediate steps to reconsider these procedures and protocols with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that this situation does not occur again’.
The FIA ‘expressed their regret’ at the situation and assured stewards that a review would be undertaken in time for the next event.
