F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Formula 1 enforces bike ban on drivers' track walks

Formula 1 drivers and team crews are no longer allowed to use bikes or any other means of transport during their Thursday track walks.

Drivers typically undertake a reconnaissance track walk with their engineers on Thursdays to discuss circuit changes or specific challenges ahead of the race weekend.

The track walk period is officially part of a Grand Prix's weekend timetable, with an assigned window that allow drivers to circulate on the circuit.

Many drivers have often opted to conduct their track walk on a bike or even a scooter. But the increased congestion during the period, which also allows the presence out on the track of drivers and crews from F1's support events, has led F1 to ban bikes or any other form of transportation.

In Bahrain, teams were informed of the new rule by Formula One Management which manages track activity as the organizer of the event.

"To clarify and to avoid future misunderstanding, the use of any means of transport (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters, etc) is forbidden during the time window stated as ‘Team Track Walks’ on the Event Timetable," stated FOM.

"No exceptions will be allowed. This decision has been agreed with the FIA."

Several drivers appeared non too pleased with the decision, with Charles Leclerc saying that he would likely skip Thursday's track walk exercise altogether in the future.

"I didn't walk around," he said. "And as I think they've just issued a new thing where we cannot go around the track with a bicycle you probably won't see me around the track anymore, and I'll just watch the videos!"

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Michael Delaney

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