Esteban Ocon says FIA has apologised after Azerbaijan GP pit-lane incident; Alpine driver narrowly avoided personnel gathering in pit lane as he made mandatory pit stop at end of penultimate lap; watch the Miami GP exclusively live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend
Thursday 4 May 2023 22:49, UK
Esteban Ocon says he has received an apology from the FIA following his near-miss with personnel in the pit lane at the end of the Azerbaijan GP last Sunday.
The Alpine driver had waited until the end of the penultimate lap to come in for his mandatory pit stop in Baku but, in shocking scenes, officials were already setting up parc ferme barriers and personnel were gathering at the start of the pit lane in preparation for the podium as the Frenchman entered.
A post-race investigation by stewards led to the FIA being required to take "immediate steps" to review protocols to ensure the incident wouldn't be repeated, and Ocon said at the Miami GP that he had also received an apology for the incident.
"The FIA has apologised," he told Sky Sports News' Craig Slater.
"They assured us that this is not going to happen anymore. Thank God nothing happened and so all good from now.
"We are racing at the time. It's of course normal that there shouldn't be anyone in the pit lane until after we are racing like that.
"These things are normally not going to happen, the FIA has assured us that they are making sure they are changing the protocol and making sure there is no one in the pit lane until the end, so I'm confident we will not see that anymore."
The FIA's updated protocols are yet to be revealed, with there being no mention in the race director's notes for this weekend's Miami GP.
The incident in Baku happened as race winner Sergio Perez was entering the closing stages of his final lap.
As it was unfolding, 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?"
Race stewards admitted it was fortunate nobody had been injured in the incident and required FIA representatives immediately change their post-race procedures to avoid a repeat in future.
Friday
6.30pm: Miami GP Practice One (session starts 7pm)
8.30pm: The F1 Show: Miami
10.15pm: Miami GP Practice Two (session starts 10.30pm)
Saturday
5.15pm: Miami GP Practice Three (session starts 5.30pm)
8pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up
9pm: Miami GP Qualifying
10.45pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday
7pm: Grand Prix Sunday Miami GP build-up
8.30pm: THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX
10.30pm: Chequered Flag Miami GP reaction
11.30pm: Ted's Notebook
The Formula 1 season continues with the Miami GP this weekend. Watch qualifying at 9pm on Saturday with lights out at 8.30pm on Sunday. Get Sky Sports
