Forward of the Brazilian Grand Prix, F1 race director Niels Wittich introduced a change of stance concerning drivers attempting to build-up gaps forward of them within the pitlane in qualifying.
Following a spate of incidents the place drivers have stopped on the finish of the pitlane to assist them get house forward of them for his or her outlap, stacking up rivals behind them, such behaviour has now been outlawed.
For each foremost qualifying and the dash shootout, F1 drivers at the moment are not allowed to cease within the quick lane of the pits.
Moreover, in the event that they need to attempt to create a niche forward of them, they need to drive slowly on the best way out of the pits and go away sufficient house for rivals to move them on the proper earlier than the pitlane exit line ends.
However whereas Wittich’s plan has good intentions, Magnussen could be very sceptical about it working as he thinks the brand new method will as a substitute set off site visitors jams contained in the pit exit line, slightly than within the pits.
With drivers having a most laptime imposed on them from security automobile line 2, Magnussen reckons the brand new restrictions will lead to a bottleneck proper earlier than that line.
Requested by Autosport about whether or not he thought the FIA’s new stance was proper, Magnussen stated: “Actually, I attempted to know it this morning and I’m unsure I perceive what we have to do.
“I believe they are saying that if you wish to go sluggish within the pitlane, you must go within the sluggish lane – which implies then they [other cars] can overtake you.
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Crew
“It means you do not that, since you’re not excited by anybody getting previous. So, I am unsure how you are going to make the gaps between pit exit to security automobile line two.
“No matter occurred within the pitlane is simply going to occur on the [SC2] line now.”
Magnussen defined that drivers wanted to goal for a five-second buffer at SC2 to make sure they’d sufficient clear air for a qualifying lap – and discovering that might get extremely difficult if different drivers soar into your hole.
“It is SC2 that defines your hole initially of the lap, you want minimal 5 seconds at SC2 as a result of in any other case you danger having a too small hole initially of the lap,” he stated.
“That hole has to occur someplace. So, there’s going to be congestion, as a substitute of within the pitlane, earlier than SC2.”
The transfer to stamp out on impeding within the pits have been triggered by the brand new imposition of a most lap time for outlaps in qualifying – which was geared toward stopping harmful site visitors issues within the ultimate corners as sluggish drivers ready for his or her fast laps.
Magnussen says issues have improved on that entrance, however notes there have been unintended penalties.
“I believe on the finish of the outlap, the [traffic] problem is far smaller,” he stated. “You possibly can say it is slightly extra predictable, as a result of the place you are going to be.
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23
“When you exit previous SC2 what your hole goes to be, except somebody overtakes you.
“If somebody’s simply ending a push lap, going right into a sluggish lap, to then do one other quick lap, and he comes previous you, then that is a difficulty as a result of then somebody enters the hole you thought you had getting out of the pit, and also you is perhaps in bother.
“That is if you usually end up preventing somebody for place on the outlap, which I’ve had occur twice since they launched this rule.
“So, it is tough. And actually, fairly just a few guys now broke that restrict, the [maximum] delta, so I do not know why anybody could be too anxious about breaking it.
“As soon as they let somebody break it and with out a penalty then how are they going to penalise the following man? So, I do not suppose it means very a lot.”
Journey nightmare
Magnussen was talking after arriving in Brazil late on Thursday following journey points that left him fearing he wouldn’t make the race weekend.
Having been left stranded in Mexico as a consequence of a ticketing downside, solely an emergency route by way of Bogota ensured he made it in time for observe at Interlagos.
“I do not know what went improper,” he stated. “I bought to the airport in Mexico and I did not have a ticket.
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Crew
“I had the itinerary, flight occasions and all the pieces like regular, however I attempted to examine in and I wasn’t on the flight. After which the flight was full.
“There have been no different good connections right here and I assumed I’d miss the entire weekend. Even personal planes, to start with, they have been stupidly costly but in addition there have been some touchdown restrictions that meant it takes days to get the permits. So, I assumed this is perhaps fascinating…”
Ultimately, Magnussen managed to discover a route.
“I needed to fly again to Mexico Metropolis and to Bogota after which to right here,” he stated. “All in financial system as properly…It was enjoyable.”