The FIA updates the concept of “working on the car” during the execution of a penalty in a race
The International Automobile Federation has announced several changes to the technical and sporting regulations for 2023 and 2024. The concept of "work" on the car has been clarified, particularly after the catastrophic end of the Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, where Alonso was penalized and then had his original ranking reinstated following a complaint from Aston Martin.
The FIA regularly holds meetings with team principals to address technical or sporting requests. While a break of over three weeks has taken place since the Australian Grand Prix, teams, along with their principals and the FIA, have gathered virtually to make changes to the sporting regulations starting from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which is taking place this weekend.
Alonso’s podium lost then restored by the FIA in Saudi Arabia
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second round of the season, Fernando Alonso lost his podium position, penalized by the FIA, before it was later reinstated to him, due to a misinterpretation of the term “Working on the car” in the technical regulations when executing a penalty in the pit lane.
The regulation indeed specifies that mechanics cannot “work on the car” before the penalty is executed, but Aston Martin judged that its mechanics, who touched the car, had not technically worked on the car. Faced with this observation and a precedent, the FIA had cancelled the penalty, which allowed Alonso to regain his podium. The FIA therefore wanted to no longer leave this regulation open to interpretation and will definitively clarify it.
“Working on the car” redefined
The press release explains:
« The proposed amendment made to article 54.4.c) of the sports regulations in March will be added to the 2023 sports regulations. »
The sporting regulations have therefore been updated accordingly and add the following elements as a complement to article 54.4.C): « In this context, touching the car or the driver with a hand or with tools or equipment will be considered as work. ».
Article 54.4 (c) ultimately contains the information:
« While a car is halted in the pit lane as a result of a penalty imposed according to Articles 54.3a) or 54.3b) above, no work can be carried out on it until it has
Considering the length of the penalty. In this context, hitting the car or the driver could
The hand or with tools or equipment will constitute work.
Considering this sporting regulation, Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin should have been penalized during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but since the decision has been validated, the FIA will not reconsider the matter.
It is also worth noting that the allocated time for the grid procedure for a Grand Prix will increase from 40 to 50 minutes. On certain races, this extra time will be used for the drivers’ presentation to the fans.
