Formula 1 is exploring a proposal to increase pitlane speed limits at select circuits to inject more excitement into races, according to Aston Martin's chief trackside officer, Mike Krack.
Before the tragic deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994, drivers could enter and exit pitlanes at full speed, a spectacle Krack fondly recalled.
"We all remember Nigel Mansell driving full throttle into the pit and full throttle out of the pit," he smiled. "That was pretty cool to watch. But it won't happen again."
The current proposal, driven by Formula 1's Liberty Media ownership rather than the more safety-conscious FIA, does not envision a return to unrestricted speeds but a targeted increase from 60kph to 80kph at circuits with narrow pitlanes, such as Melbourne, Zandvoort, and Singapore.
With the 2025 season nearing the end of a regulatory cycle, producing closely matched and ultra-fast cars but sometimes lacklustre races due to aerodynamic turbulence, raising pitlane speeds could reduce the time penalty of pitstops, encouraging more strategic stops and diversifying race outcomes.
This year, F1 has already mandated two pitstops in Monaco and urged Pirelli to adopt bolder tyre compound choices to enhance racing.
Krack revealed, "Formula 1 has a working group investigating this issue to make the races more entertaining. Of course, you'd have to weigh the safety factor against the spectacle."
However, he expressed reservations about the plan's efficacy and safety, noting that Monaco has been excluded from the speed increase, and "in Zandvoort, it's simply too narrow there as well. Besides, raising the speed only has a limited effect."
Krack concluded, "I don't think increasing the speed just to improve the show is the right approach," highlighting the delicate balance between entertainment and safety in the proposed changes.
