MARCH 14, 2005

A clarification for the F1 teams

The disappearance into the pits in Melbourne of the two BAR-Hondas at the end of the race was something which was not unexpected. The rules allowed for cars to head to the pits in order to get new engines for the second race under the new two-race engine regulations. The teams were keen to understand exactly what the rules meant and we hear were told several times that a late race pit stop was acceptable, given that there would no points scored in the first race.

Now, however, it seems that this is no longer fine and that in future teams which have cars which head into the pitlane at the end of the races may be asked to prove to the stewards that their engines have problems.

It is not clear why the clarification has been deemed necessary.