Why Hamilton's lack of understanding of the pit lane rules was unjustified

F1 News

7 September 2020 at 11:26
Last update 7 September 2020 at 17:27
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  • GPblog.com

When Kevin Magnussen came to stop at the exit of the Parabolica, the safety car was quickly sent out and the pit lane was closed. Hamilton drove in and later received a penalty for this. Hamilton was discussing the issue during the red flag, at that moment he didn't understand why it was necessary to close the pit lane.

According to the Brit, who had only seen the situation from inside the car because the team didn't have the footage, the marshals could have easily pushed Magnussen's car backwards through the gap in the crash barrier. It was not for nothing that the Dane had stopped near this track post.

Marshalls had no choice

These marshals, however, decided that Hamilton did not understand that it was necessary to push the Haas to the pit lane, so it had to be closed. Once they arrived at the race management, the world champion must have realised that there was no other way.

Indeed, the helicopter images of the situation clearly show that at the gap in the crash barrier leaves no room at all for Magnussen's car. If it even had fitted in the gap, there would have been no room behind it to park the VF20.