Mercedes, along with Ferrari and Aston Martin, remained “within limits” at the Abu Dhabi circuit beyond the deadline set by the FIA, breaking the F1 circuit’s curfew.
A F1 circuit curfew is a time during a race weekend when teams are prohibited from working on their cars on track to ensure adequate rest for team staff.
This season, F1 team members’ working hours during race weekends have been reduced.
The curfew allowed during the first (Wednesday) and second (Thursday) lockdown periods will be halved from 8 hours to 4 hours and from 6 hours to 3 hours, respectively, with further increases in 2024. It is scheduled to be reduced. Friday’s third power outage period began an hour earlier.
Curfew violators will escape punishment
Amid the busy final stages of the 2023 season, a curfew is in place for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 10pm to 11:30am local time.
However, on Friday Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston were in violation. Martin were all in violation as team staff were still at the Yas Marina circuit after 10pm, so there was a curfew.
Changes are allowed after a set time limit of two races per season, and Mercedes and Ferrari appear to have taken advantage of this as they enter a crucial grand prix in the battle for second place in the constructors’ championship.
No penalty will be assessed as this is the second time all three teams have broken the curfew.