Azerbaijan GP Pit Disaster: A Repeat FIA Offence

Formula One has come under fire again for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix pit lane disaster as fans point out that this is not the first time this has been allowed to happen.

2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

During the last lap of the race in Baku today, the FIA let photographers and other staff members out onto the pit lane despite Esteban Ocon having to come in for a mandatory pit stop.

Thankfully no one was hurt but it was an incredibly dangerous situation to put photographers, staff, and Ocon in.

The FIA representatives were investigated over the move, but nothing really happened beyond a "it won't happen again".

The backlash from fans was huge with many picking up on the fact that this has been able to happen before.

2022 Australian Grand Prix

Williams driver Alex Albon had a similar situation in Australia last year.

Tom Bellingham from P1 with Matt & Tommy posted to Twitter:

"Last year in Aus, Albon pitted on the last lap too Good to see F1 learned from it..."

Last year in Aus, Albon pitted on the last lap too

Good to see F1 learned from it... pic.twitter.com/64o3EoVyWw
— Tom Bellingham (@TomP1Bellingham) April 30, 2023

The British-Thai driver was leaving the pit lane on the last lap when a group of fans had been allowed onto the pit lane so were just wondering about. Albon had to navigate his way around the fans to avoid causing a disaster.

Another F1 fan commented:

"Absolutely no reason for the integrity of the pitlane to be breached before the finish of the Grand Prix. The entry to Bakus is even more troubling, considering you sort of pop out from behind the barrier. God forbid he locks up and spins due to the panick of being surprised." [sic]

Absolutely no reason for the integrity of the pitlane to be breached before the finish of the Grand Prix. The entry to Bakus is even more troubling, considering you sort of pop out from behind the barrier. God forbid he locks up and spins due to the panick of being surprised.
— Aubrey 🇺🇸 (@Aubrey_2_Hotty) April 30, 2023

Someone else posted, jokingly:

"They figured they failed last time so needed to give it a better attempt this time."

They figured they failed last time so needed to give it a better attempt this time.
— Nath (@Nath2410_) April 30, 2023

2022 Japanese Grand Prix

Someone else mentioned the incident with Pierre Gasly at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix when a recovery vehicle had been allowed onto the track after a crash whilst Gasly was still there. The visibility was awful with heavy rain leaving the Frenchman narrowly missing out on a huge crash.

let me add this one too pic.twitter.com/O20FHgd4N8
— joajoa (@mongejoaa) April 30, 2023