George Russell and Nicholas Latifi avoid penalties after bizarre Mexico pit lane summons

George Russell in practice in Mexico — Photo: © LAT Images

Mexico City Grand Prix

Russell and Latifi avoid penalties after bizarre Mexico pit lane summons

Duo faced stewards for not being in correct order

Ian Parkes

Sunday 7 November 2021 00:42

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Williams duo George Russell and Nicholas Latifi have avoided any penalty following a bizarre summons to see the stewards after qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix.

At the restart of Q1, following a crash seven minutes in involving Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Russell and Latifi pulled into the pit lane ready to restart.

Given the position of the Williams garage at the end of the pit lane, as with every grand prix, Russell and Latifi were alongside other cars already waiting to pull out.

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The stewards, however, chose to investigate, citing the fact the duo "did not leave the pit lane in the correct order in relation to other cars already in the fast lane".

Both Russell and Latifi were left baffled by the summons immediately after qualifying, with the investigation eventually coming to nothing.

A stewards' report read: "At the restart of the session, cars 6 and 63 left the pit lane ahead of cars that had already formed up in the fast lane.

"The stewards accept the team’s explanation that, unless they are first to move to the fast lane, the positioning of their garages which are located at the end of the pit lane makes it impossible for their cars to join the end of the line of cars already there.

"The stewards also accept that it is difficult for the driver, having moved out of his garage, to determine exactly where he should filter into the line of cars once they start to leave the pit lane.

"In these circumstances, and considering that no unsafe situation was caused in this instance, the stewards determine that no further action is appropriate."

Head of vehicle performance Dave Robson added: "We're not entirely sure why it is such an issue.

"The rules are you have to leave the pit lane in the order in which you got there. If there is a queue in the fast lane and they are blocking our way then it is a little awkward to get out.

"I think what we did was the best thing to do, and the correct thing to do."