FIA race director Charlie Whiting has clarified why Mercedes was not penalised for the use of so-called ‘phantom’ pit-stops during the Italian Grand Prix.
During what became a very tactical battle for the victory at Monza, the German manufacturer entered the pit-lane first in anticipation of Lewis Hamilton, drawing the Ferrari crew out in response.
When the Scuderia did go ahead with their stop for Kimi Raikkonen, the Mercedes team went back in as the Briton continued, going a further eight laps before eventually changing tyres.
Some have pondered why that doesn’t breach a regulation which states a crew can only be in the pit-lane when a car is imminently due, but Whiting admits there is a grey area.
“My feeling is that it is all part of the game,” he said.
“We don’t like teams hanging around in the pit lane if they are not actually doing a pit stop, but if they come out as if there are going to do one … if they did it every lap I think we would have something to say.
“But they may well have been thinking about doing one and then changed their mind, so unless someone does something overtly incorrect I don’t think we will do anything about it.”
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While it may have ultimately defined the race, as Raikkonen later ran out of rear grip allowing Hamilton to pass for the win, motorsport boss Toto Wolff also defended Mercedes’ actions.
“It wasn’t a phantom stop,” the Austrian said. “You need to be prepared if you undercut or overcut.
“We didn’t know if Kimi was coming in so the message was to do the opposite. Doing the opposite means you need to have the pit crew prepared.”
