F1 considers minimum time for pitstops

Formula one is considering introducing a minimum time limit for pitstops, as the clampdown on pitlane safety continues.

After a cameraman was hospitalised by Mark Webber's flying wheel at the Nurburgring following a botched pitstop, access to the pitlane for journalists and photographers has been severely limited.

And according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the clampdown could be set to continue.

Concerned that ever-impressive techniques and technology are pushing the speed of pitstops beyond the safety threshold, talks between the FIA's Charlie Whting and the team bosses are set to take place at the Hungaroring on Thursday.

"A time limit will be discussed," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

"For example, a minimum of five or even ten seconds, which would reduce the error-rate drastically."

Schmidt added, however, that some teams would resist the move, insisting the spectacle and competition of the pitstops is a crucial part of the F1 'show'.

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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