F1 Miami Grand Prix: Alarming 'Deja Vu' Pit Scene Proves Formula 1’s Lack of Progress from Baku Incident
Although Norris was not forced to swerve, the incident nonetheless raises concerns about pit lane safety, especially in light of Esteban Ocon's near-miss with a group of photographers at Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
By Divyam Dubey
In a terrifying near-miss incident during the Miami Grand Prix, Lando Norris barely missed hitting an individual who was strolling across the pit lane. As he pulled into the pit lane for his stop, the British driver came within just yards of colliding with the person. Just a week after the event in Baku, Formula 1 spectators were shocked to see another near-miss. The McLaren driver seems to make a split-second decision to manoeuvre around the paddock pass holder. The fact that the entry to the pitlane was located around a blind bend made it so the guy wasn't seen until the very last second just made matters worse. This occurs despite FIA regulation changes implemented prior to Miami with the goal of enhancing safety. The event was only brought to light when shots from Norris' onboard camera were circulated on social media.
Also Read: F1 Imola GP: Mercedes Confirms Major Upgrades for the W14 at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Alpine Incident in Baku
De FIA had nieuwe regels ingesteld nadat Ocon vorige week bijna een hoop mensen omver reed in de pitlane in de laatste ronde. Lando Norris vandaag: pic.twitter.com/korF46P4qE
— Rob van Gameren (@VanGamerenF1) May 7, 2023
Esteban Ocon, driving for Alpine, almost collided with a big throng of photographers at the start of the pitlane during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Alpine driver said he had to go even slower than the permitted 80km/h in the pit lane because of the unpredictable movements of photographers, officials, and onlookers.
The stewards of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, who are appointed by the FIA but are not part of the organisation itself for reasons of impartiality, investigated the incident as soon as the race was ended.
F1: McLaren’s 2023 Season so Far
The floor modification McLaren made at the last race was expected to pay dividends in Miami. Everything about McLaren's 2023 campaign is getting worse. The Woking squad had modest hopes coming into the season. Fans find it hard to understand how they got into this mess considering the calibre of drivers and other team members.
After McLaren's disastrous performances in the first two races of 2023, the team revealed that they had not met major development objectives established in the offseason, prompting the departure of Technical Director James Key.
At the end of the first round of Miami GP Qualifying, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and McLaren CEO Zak Brown were all left disappointed. It's the first time this year that both McLarens have been eliminated in the first round of qualifying. The improvements made in Baku last week gave the squad a little glimmer of optimism. However, the MCL60's intensity popped the team's balloons in Miami.
The 2023 Constructors' Championship had McLaren in fifth position, equal with Alpine on 14 points but 64 points behind fourth-place Ferrari.
