FIA reduces pit lane speed limit

The FIA has reduced the pitlane speed limit for qualifying and the race from 100 to 60 km/h this weekend in Australia in order to improve safety in the pitlane. Usually, the pitlane speed limit is set at 60 km/h for free practice, before being bumped up to 100 km/h for qualifying and the race, but the short and narrow pitlane at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne has prompted the FIA to keep the speed limit at 60 km/h for the duration of the weekend.

Under the regulations, the FIA must seek permission from the stewards to reduce the pitlane speed limit, as per Article 30.12 of the sporting rules, with the 4-man stewarding panel duly accepting the FIA's request just before the start of first practice earlier this afternoon.

The move is unlikely to have any impact on race strategy, with a one-stop strategy likely to have been employed by all teams regardless.