Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly only just made it out of the Barcelona pitlane before it closed 30 minutes before the start of the race because the two Red Bull teams were waiting for the fuel to rise to the legal minimum temperature.
The limit is 10°C below ambient as declared to the nearest round number by the FIA from the official timing screens two hours before the start. That coincides with the time when the fuel has to go into the cars.
Teams put fuel in at a level below the minimum, on the basis that the temperature will rise while it sits in the car in the two hours before the race and rise further, when the engines are started and run, as part of the usual pre-race procedures.
The official temperature shown around two hours before the Spanish GP on the FIA info system was in the 34°C range, so teams thus expected to have to use 24°C as the minimum.
However, the actual official figure declared by the FIA, and to which teams had to adhere, apparently just ticked to 35°C – which meant fuel had to be 25°C or over.
That difference was enough to leave some teams scrambling to generate the extra degree of fuel temperature at the last minute. The FIA monitors this live from the standard fuel flow meters in each car.
Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT03
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
In Spain, Red Bull and AlphaTauri used the time that they would usually use for laps through the pitlane and a practice start to keep the cars in the garages with their engines running.
Gasly and Verstappen finally left just seconds before the pitlane closed and were able to get to the grid. However, the drivers’ usual pre-race preparations were compromised.
Teams are now discussing when the official temperature is declared with the FIA, with the main issue being that fuel has to go into the cars essentially at the same time – two hours before the race schedule – as the official temperature declaration.
Some teams have suggested that the temperature should be made official earlier to give them more time to make the required calculations. That discussion is now ongoing and any changes will have to be agreed and approved via the usual processes.
In Miami, the two Aston Martins were so far off the minimum temperature, due to a team error, that they were obliged to start from the pitlane once the minimum limit had been reached.
Speaking in Monaco on Thursday, Gasly admitted he thought the same might happen to him in Spain and made it clear how tight his departure from the garage had been.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR22, leaves the garage
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “At some point I could see the clock and I was like, it would be great to go. We made it by about 20 seconds.
“The thing is we kind of laughed about it before the race, about this [Aston Martin] fuel story that happened in Miami. And then we ended up in the same situation. I’m glad we managed to sort everything out.
“It doesn’t impact but it’s just a small thing which we can avoid and give an easier time to all the guys. We were supposed to do two laps to the grid, check the balance do a practice start. In the end we didn’t do the practice start, didn’t check the balance.
“It doesn’t change the full race, I had a great start, didn’t have the best balance, but it wasn’t the reason. It’s just a lot of things which can be improved.”
Ricciardo “pushed set-up too far” ahead of Monaco FP2 crash
F1 Grand Prix practice results: Leclerc fastest in Monaco GP on Friday
McLaren has to “up game” after disastrous Montreal F1 weekend
Piastri set for first Alpine F1 outing in French GP practice
The highs and lows of F1’s latest supersub Hulkenberg
Verstappen suffered F1 radio failure ahead of Canada restart
Traction, not top speed, kept Verstappen ahead of Sainz – Horner
Would Leclerc have won in Baku had his Ferrari survived?
Horner: Mercedes car concept, not F1’s 2022 rules, to blame for issues
Verstappen: F1 slicks gamble “never on” in Canada qualifying
How Perez shaded Verstappen in Monaco and earned new F1 contract
McLaren has to “up game” after disastrous Montreal F1 weekend
Piastri set for first Alpine F1 outing in French GP practice
How F1’s future fuels can shape the automotive sector
Russell: Mercedes “falling into traps” with F1 car set-up
How F1’s future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as ‘drop-in’ fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings…
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Why “faster” Ferrari couldn’t beat Red Bull in Canadian GP
On paper the Canadian Grand Prix will go down as Max Verstappen’s latest triumph, fending off late pressure from Carlos Sainz to extend his Formula 1 world championship lead. But as safety car periods, virtual and real, shook up the race Ferrari demonstrated it can take the fight to Red Bull after recent failures.
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix
The in-demand helmet designer creating works of art for F1’s best
GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV pays a visit to designer Jens Munser, to observe the production of Mick Schumacher’s special helmet for the Miami Grand Prix. What follows is some fascinating insight on the mindsets of Mick’s dad Michael, and family friend Sebastian Vettel
How F1’s ingenious ignition revolution brought an instant power boost
Former Mercedes powertrains boss Andy Cowell used to say “it all starts with the bonfire”. PAT SYMONDS explains how clever ignition technology delivered a massive advantage
The long-run F1 data that offers Ferrari hope in Canada
Max Verstappen headed both Canadian Grand Prix practice sessions, as Charles Leclerc faces a 10-place grid penalty after his Baku blowout. Although those signs point to Red Bull dominating the Formula 1 proceedings in Montreal, Ferrari can bring itself into play if it can deliver on the promise of its long runs.
Why “unfair” F1 porpoising rule change needs to be looked at
With the considerable levels of bouncing experienced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, drivers have called for changes to ease the stress on their backs. But equally, the Formula 1 teams with cars less susceptible to it are unlikely to accept any differences in the rules, feeling it punishes those who got the 2022 regs right. Both sides to the argument have merit – and the FIA must find a middle ground
