Michael Masi may review red flag tire changing rule

At Monza, the turning point of the Italian Grand Prix was the red flag caused by the exit of the track Charles Leclerc. Called back to the pits, the drivers then had to wait before the race resumed. Some took advantage of this break, and especially the “gifts” of the regulations, to change tires and thus “carry out” the obligatory stop imposed by the FIA.

Article 41.4 b) VII) (it's precise) of the sporting regulations authorizes the changing of tires when the race is suspended. So therefore benefit for Lance stroll (RacingPoint). #F1 #ItalianGP

— Julien Billiotte (@jbilliotte) September 6, 2020

A rule that Lando Norris did not hesitate to qualify as “ dumb » since it offers a so-called stop « free » without wasting time according to him. “ This rule should be removed » declared the pilot McLaren believing he missed the podium in Italy because of it.

« The only reason I didn't make the podium, I think, was because Stroll got a free pit stop ", instead of Pierre Gasly which had stopped before Charles Leclerc's accident and therefore the red flag.

« I think we had both examples: Gasly stopping before and being in front with the red flag. And he was there, so it was just, there's nothing we can do about it.

But for someone who just didn't stop, they just saved 24 seconds by doing nothing. He should have had to stop, it was his fault they hadn't stopped yet. You can get lucky doing what Pierre did, but I think it's just fair play. But not having to stop and do that mandatory pit stop, which they didn't really do, that's one thing that's not fair, I don't think. ».

Aware of the discord caused by this famous rule, Michael Masi can do nothing about it at the moment. “ The regulations regarding the suspension of a race have been like this for several years. Luckily, this is not an event that occurs regularly.

If there are elements of the regulations that need to be reviewed, we will do so with the sporting directors of the teams. ". However, these changes are not on the agenda, at least not before the end of the season according to the race director: “ Nothing will change for the rest of 2020, but we will have a discussion. We will learn from it and see what can be improved. ". Patience.