Scary moment in Singapore almost leads to pit lane disaster

Coming into the pits on lap 14, Gabriel Bortoleto’s stop during the Singapore Grand Prix nearly had serious consequences for one of Sauber’s mechanics.

While fitting the new tyres, the crew member working on the front-right wheel accidentally left the replaced tyre standing upright, causing it to roll backward dangerously toward the fast lane — risking a collision with other cars.

Another mechanic, working on the rear of Bortoleto’s Sauber, quickly noticed what was happening and rushed to stop the runaway tyre, unaware that Yuki Tsunoda’s car was approaching from behind at that exact moment.

It was a tense and potentially dangerous situation, fortunately avoided at the last second.

After several layout modifications in recent years, one of the changes introduced by the FIA compared to last year’s edition was an increase in pit lane speed.

This year, drivers were allowed to enter the pit lane at 80 km/h, up from the usual 60 km/h, even though Singapore’s pit lane remains notably narrow.

A decision that sparked plenty of debate in the paddock ahead of the weekend. Here’s what Charles Leclerc had to say about it a few days ago.