Motorsport news: Supercars considering radical live pit lane rule change, Carlos Sainz Australian GP penalty
A significant rule change could have serious ramifications for Supercars teams next season. Plus all the latest from the motorsport world in our Braking News column.
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Supercars is considering a serious shake-up ahead of the 2024 season that would alter the pit lane order at each event in a push to reward in-form drivers throughout the year.
News Corp Australia can reveal Supercars management is considering implementing a ‘live pit lane’ concept, whereby the driver or team leading the championship at the end of each round would be granted top spot in the pit lane.
Under Rule D2.1, the pit lane order for the season is set in stone according to the previous year’s final Teams Championship standings.
But that could all change come next season if the live pit lane, currently under consideration by the Supercars Commission, comes into effect.
It’s understood the live pit lane concept has been put forward to the Supercars Commission and a feasibility investigation is under way. Once concluded and tabled to the Commission, a final decision will be made.
“Yes, it is something that has come up as an action item for the Commission to look into,” a Supercars spokesperson told News Corp.
“There is a ton of logistical operations involved in pit lane set-up for teams that needs to be considered before this goes any further, but we are happy to look into it.
“We’re always looking for new ways to improve the racing experience for fans and drivers.
“The Commission will be conducting a thorough review of the proposed concept in the coming months, with a final decision expected to be announced ahead of the 2024 season.”
If approved, the live pit lane would be based on Teams Championship points each round.
The four-car franchises (Tickford and Brad Jones Racing) would be split into teams of two, as per normal scoring, while single-car teams (Blanchard Racing Team) would have their scores almost doubled (1.8x) to determine the live pit lane order.
As seen at the Melbourne SuperSprint round earlier this month, logjams in pit lane can have serious ramifications in close races. Being at the top of pit lane helps teams and drivers avoid much of the mayhem further back.
Reigning champion team Triple Eight Race Engineering currently owns the top spot in the 2023 pit lane, with Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney set to start all 12 rounds of the season from the enviable position.
But the Red Bulls would be relegated to the second garage for the upcoming Perth SuperSprint at the end of the month, with Erebus duo Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown taking top spot, if the live pit lane concept was implemented.
It would mark a massive 12-place rise up the pecking order for the early championship leaders, who currently occupy the middle garages.
Perhaps the biggest shake-up would be felt at Ford flagship program Dick Johnson Racing.
Last year’s runner-up team would start the Perth round from 17th and 18th position after a disappointing start to the season for Anton de Pasquale and Will Davison.
One team boss confirmed they were aware of the live pit lane considerations and would be “supportive of it” given the correct checks and balances were made.
“It has been done in other championships around the world so it’s not totally new,” they told News Corp.
“There has been some discussion around that. At the end of the day, we’re in show business and if that makes it more entertaining and mixes things up a bit, I’m open minded about it if that’s the way (Supercars) chooses to go.
“I’m supportive of anything that’s good for the show and quite a few people I think would feel the same on that basis.
“I would be supportive of it – but there’s a whole mechanism to go through, with pros and cons.
“There might be something that changes my view further down the track, but on the surface I’d be supportive of it.”
Current Championship Pit Lane Order
1. Shane van Gisbergen
2. Broc Feeney
3. Anton De Pasquale
4. Will Davison
5. Cam Waters
6. James Courtney
7. Thomas Randle
8. Declan Fraser
9. Chaz Mostert
10. Nick Percat
11. David Reynolds
12. Matt Payne
13. Will Brown
14. Brodie Kostecki
15. Mark Winterbottom
16. Scott Pye
17. Andre Heimgartner
18. Bryce Fullwood
19. Macauley Jones
20. Jack Smith
21. Jack Le Brocq
22. Cameron Hill
23. Tim Slade
24. James Golding
25. Todd Hazelwood
If Live Pit Lane was implemented for Perth
1. Will Brown (+12)
2. Brodie Kostecki (+12)
3. Shane van Gisbergen (-2)
4. Broc Feeney (-2)
5. Andre Heimgartner (+12)
6. Bryce Fullwood (+12)
7. Chaz Mostert (+2)
8. Nick Percat (+2)
9. David Reynolds (+2)
10. Matt Payne (+2)
11. Mark Winterbottom (+4)
12. Scott Pye (+4)
13. Cam Waters (-8)
14. James Courtney (-8)
15. Tim Slade (+9)
16. James Golding (+9)
17. Anton De Pasquale (-14)
18. Will Davison (-14)
19. Jack Le Brocq (+2)
20. Cameron Hill (+2)
21. Thomas Randle (-14)
22. Declan Fraser (-14)
23. Macauley Jones (-4)
24. Jack Smith (-4)
25. Todd Hazelwood (-)
FERRARI GIVEN ‘RIGHT OF REVIEW’ FOR SAINZ PENALTY
The Carlos Sainz Australian Grand Prix penalty saga has not gone away.
Ferrari have successfully petitioned the FIA to seek a review of the decision to hand Sainz a five-second penalty which saw him tumble down the order at Albert Park.
Sainz and a Ferrari representative will dial into a virtual hearing with stewards on Tuesday at 4pm (AEST) to push their case for his penalty to be revoked.
The Spaniard was left visibly distraught after learning he would have to serve the time penalty for his role in Fernando Alonso’s spin-out during the second red flag restart.
Normally a five-second penalty would only cost a handful of places at most, however because the race finished under a safety car, the field was so bunched up that Sainz dropped from fourth to 12th.
He later labelled the decision “the biggest disgrace of the sport that I’ve seen in many, many years”.
Though Sainz was hit with a penalty for his infringement, both Logan Sargeant and Pierre Gasly were let off for similar on-track offences.
Williams rookie Logan Sargeant ran up the back of Nyck De Vries during the same red flag restart and ended the race of both drivers in the process.
Meanwhile, Gasly rejoined the track in what appeared to be an unsafe manner before turning into Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon causing both cars to crash.
Of all three incidents, Sainz was the only driver hit with a penalty – despite Alonso being able to continue the race and ultimately finish third.
—Full Summons —
“The Stewards of the 2023 Australian Grand Prix have received a letter from Nikolas Tombazis, Single-seater Director of the FIA, attaching a petition by Competitor Scuderia Ferrari dated 6th April 2023 under Article 14 of the FIA International Sport Code (“Petition”) seeking a review of the Stewards decision no. 46 made within the framework of the 2023 Australian Grand Prix and requesting that the Stewards: ‘consider such request and to make a determination whether or not a significant and relevant new element exists (Article 14.3 of the Code) in relation to the decision/incident’.
“The driver(s) and team representative(s) are required to report to the Stewards for a virtual hearing to be held on 18th April at 0800 CET in relation to the Petition.”
VASSEUR TOLD TO FIND THE BEST
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says he has been given the green light to head hunt top talent in a bid to propel the Scuderia back to the top of Formula One.
According to Italian journalist Leo Turrini, first-year team principal Vasseur “has obtained the go-ahead from the top management: he will be able to look abroad for those professionals to integrate and strengthen the structure of Ferrari.”
In the same interview with various Italian media outlets, Vasseur said Ferrari “remains convinced that the SF23 has potential that we have not yet managed to fully extract”.
The Frenchman also could not help taking a swipe at Red Bull, who have comfortably won every race so far this season.
“It is evident that they have worked better than anyone else. However, I remain of the opinion that the fine they suffered for having breached the budget cap was too light,” Vasseur said.
“It’s not an excuse, please. But it’s the truth.”
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