Phoenix 24
An apparently minor clothing violation reveals how strictly Formula 2 regulates access to its most dangerous working area.
MADRID, SPAIN
Sebastián Montoya became involved in one of Formula 2’s most unusual disciplinary decisions after his sister approached his car in the pit lane without wearing long trousers. FIA stewards imposed a €500 fine connected to the Colombian driver’s entry during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend at Madrid’s new Madring circuit.
The sanction was not related to Montoya’s conduct on the track or to any technical irregularity in his car. It arose because regulations require team personnel and authorized guests working or moving near the vehicles to wear long trousers while practice sessions and races are underway. The rule applies to mechanics, engineers, physiotherapists and other accredited individuals granted access to the operational pit-lane area.
Montoya’s sister reportedly entered the restricted zone wearing shorts or a short garment when she approached the car. Although she was not performing a technical role, her proximity to the vehicle placed her within the area covered by the safety regulation. Officials therefore held the competitor responsible for ensuring that every associated person complied with the required clothing standards.
The penalty attracted attention because the clothing itself appeared unrelated to sporting performance. However, pit lanes contain moving cars, exposed mechanical components, hot surfaces, electrical systems, fuels and equipment operating under intense time pressure. Long trousers provide limited protection against burns, debris and accidental contact while also helping officials distinguish properly equipped personnel from ordinary visitors.
Responsibility in international motorsport extends beyond the driver. Teams are accountable for mechanics, guests and family members entering regulated areas under their accreditation. An innocent visit can consequently become a formal infringement when those responsible have not communicated the rules clearly.
The €500 penalty will have no effect on Montoya’s championship position or race results. Nevertheless, it illustrates the FIA’s preference for preventive compliance: safety requirements are enforced before an apparently harmless exception becomes a precedent. In a pit lane, familiarity with a driver does not remove the risks surrounding the car.
In high-risk environments, small rules often protect against consequences that have not yet occurred.