By Jonathan Green
Last Updated: 30/04/23 2:53pm
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Esteban Ocon drove into a pit lane full of people after photographers had begun to enter it before the end of the Azerbaijan GP and described it as a ‘scary’ experience
Esteban Ocon drove into a pit lane full of people after photographers had begun to enter it before the end of the Azerbaijan GP and described it as a ‘scary’ experience
The FIA is investigating the terrifying and “shambolic” end to the Azerbaijan GP as Esteban Ocon entered the pit lane while the entrance was crowded with people.
Alpine had waited until the end of the penultimate lap to pit the Frenchman for his mandatory tyre stop.
But, in shocking scenes, officials were already setting up parc ferme barriers and photographers were gathering at the start of the pit lane in preparation for the podium as Ocon entered.
Onboard pictures from Ocon’s car show just how close the Frenchman was to photographers, with several having to leap out of the way. Fortunately no one was injured.
An FIA statement read: “Representatives of the FIA responsible for the parc ferme area at pit entry are required to report to race stewards (at 14.30 BST) due to “personnel blocking the fast lane in the pit lane on the final lap of the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix while the pit lane remained open”.
As the incident was happening, Sky Sports F1 pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz said: “There are people all over the pit lane.
“What is this about? This is a shambles, this is an absolute shambles.
“We could see it coming, Alpine could see it coming, what is going on down there.”
David Croft added in commentary: “That is a total and utter shambles of organisation and somebody should have known.”
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 post-race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the FIA must do better to avoid a similar incident in future.
“That needs a review because Esteban is within his rights to pit on the last lap and finish in the pit lane if he wanted to.
“That is something the FIA needs to police a little better before the end of a race.”
A similar incident happened at last year’s Australian GP when Alex Albon entered the pits as the parc ferme area was being constructed.