What is the maximum speed allowed for F1 cars in the pit lane?

Since 2017, the speed limit in the pit lane during an F1 Grand Prix has been set at 80 km/h. This limit was introduced as a safety measure following a series of accidents.

In Formula 1, the only place where cars cannot drive at full speed is the pit lane, where drivers must slow down when entering or leaving their garage. This restriction is relatively recent: the FIA first introduced a 100 km/h limit in 2004, then lowered it further in 2017.

According to the current regulations, “a speed limit of 80 km/h will be applied in the pit lane throughout the race, but the race director may adjust it on the recommendation of the safety delegate.” Some circuits have a lower limit, usually 60 km/h, notably Monaco, and in previous seasons, Australia and Singapore. As the limit can be changed by the race director, it may change for any circuit in the future. The Monaco pit lane is exceptionally narrow and short, and many team members work close to the track. Even without the teams' wall of computers at the edge of the track, the cramped conditions make high speeds dangerous, which is why the limit is set at 60 km/h. In Melbourne, the pit lane is also short; at 80 km/h, drivers would lose too little time, which would encourage them to change tires more frequently. Singapore faces a similar problem: the pit lane cuts across the last corner, giving a small time advantage before the braking zone. The 60 km/h limit therefore prevents the pit lane from becoming faster than the main straight. Speed is controlled using several methods. Radars located at the entrance and exit of the pit lane check whether drivers are complying with the limit, while electronic GPS sensors track speed along the entire length. These measures were introduced to protect pit lane personnel after several accidents, but incidents continue to occur. For example, Kimi Räikkönen collided with a mechanic during a pit stop in 2018. The FIA records speed to the nearest tenth of a kilometer per hour, which means that exceeding the limit by just 0.1 km/h is considered to be 1 km/h over the limit. As a result, drivers often lock their wheels at the radar line to avoid exceeding the limit. The penalty for speeding is a fine of €100 per kilometer per hour above the limit, up to a maximum of €1,000. To stay within the limit, drivers use the “Pit” mode on their steering wheel. After braking for the first 100 meters of the pit lane entrance and falling below the speed limit, they activate this mode, which functions as a cruise control, automatically maintaining the maximum speed limit. The limiter remains active until the car reaches the garage, then deactivates for the final exit. Once the car has passed the second radar at the end of the pit lane, the driver can deactivate the system and resume their maximum racing speed.