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Brundle Defends Strictness of Monaco Pit Lane Speeding Penalties
Martin Brundle stated that the penalties given to drivers exceeding the pit lane speed limit at the Monaco Grand Prix were harsh but necessary. Time penalties were applied to Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, and Pierre Gasly, with Gasly facing a harsher outcome due to two separate violations.
Martin Brundle defended the penalties given to drivers who exceeded the pit lane speed limit at the Monaco Grand Prix as "appropriately strict." The former Formula 1 driver said that if exceptions were made even for very small differences like 60.1 km/h, the limit would quickly become blurred.
At Monaco, five drivers received a total of six speeding violation penalties. Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, and Pierre Gasly each received five-second time penalties; Gasly was penalized twice for two separate violations.
Speed limit reduced to 60 km/h in Monaco
It was noted that the speed measurement in the pit lane was based on the distance between different points placed on the track surface. Due to Monaco's narrow layout, the speed limit applied during the race weekend was lowered from 80 km/h to 60 km/h.
Brundle emphasized that drivers tried to gain time by entering the pit lane a few meters early, but this did not eliminate the risk of penalties. According to him, clear enforcement of the rules prevents confusion that would arise if the limit were relaxed.
Brundle compared these types of penalties to car weight violations, stating that even small differences can lead to sanctions in Formula 1. He mentioned that if tolerance were allowed for 60.1 km/h, the same approach would be demanded for 60.2 km/h as well.
Race flow changed for Russell and Gasly
Lewis Hamilton served his penalty during the safety car period, so the sanction did not significantly affect his race. Oscar Piastri and Franco Colapinto also managed to get through their penalties with relatively little damage.
The situation was different for George Russell. Entering the pit under the safety car, Russell was unable to serve his penalty correctly due to confusion caused by his team's simultaneous tire change, resulting in a drive-through penalty.
This pushed Russell temporarily to the back of the pack. The British driver finished the race in 15th place but moved up to 12th after penalties were given to Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Perez.
Brundle said Russell's penalty almost completely ruined his race. It was noted that during the pit process under the safety car, the penalty should have been applied before the tire change, and the fact that cars had to pass through the pit lane simultaneously made the situation even more difficult.
Gasly’s podium joy spoiled by penalties
The hardest blow of the day was suffered by Pierre Gasly. The Alpine driver thought he had secured his first podium of the season by crossing the finish line in third place, but after two penalties totaling 10 seconds were added, he dropped to seventh.
Brundle said Gasly received two penalties within 20 minutes for speeds of 60.1 km/h and 60.4 km/h, which was a huge disappointment for the driver. It was also reported that Alpine mechanics checked the distance in the pit lane with a measuring wheel after the race.
Alpine has requested a review of the penalties. However, Brundle expressed doubt that this appeal would yield any results.
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