Verstappen sets pace in Abu Dhabi: overtaking pit-exit banned

During the second free practice session in Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen unorthodoxly overtook fellow competitors Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Pierre Gasly at the end of the pit lane. Naturally, the FIA also saw this, and they informed, in the 'event notes' for the third free practice, that this was not the intention.

So after Verstappen's moment, the FIA has decided not to allow this anymore. From Saturday morning, no people will be allowed to overtake when coming out of the pit lane unless a car has a clear technical problem, the FIA explained. That the rules create some ambiguity seems clear.

A few weeks ago, drivers were still allowed to overtake each other, as long as the slower cars drove on the left. Verstappen rushed past the drivers on Friday, as he wanted to optimise his track time. Indeed, in the first free practice, Isack Hadjar was in Verstappen's car.