Two lonely Alfa Romeo mechanics had dared to get back on the grid after the aborted second start to the Formula 1 race in Monza 2023, everyone else waited patiently in the pit lane for approval from the race control, which was due to a defective LED display did not happen.
The race on Sunday started with a significant delay. The reason was Yuki Tsunoda, who had rolled out with his AlphaTauri in the formation lap shortly before the Parabolica – presumably with a problem with the MGU-H.
After Tsunoda’s retirement, the other riders gathered on the grid as they would normally do for a standing start, but the lights at the traffic light signaled that the start was being abandoned and the remaining 19 riders headed out for a second formation lap .
Grand Prix start had to be cancelled
But even after the second warm-up lap, the start could not be released because the AlphaTauri could not be recovered quickly enough. This time, however, the cars were kept on the grid for a long time without information. The drivers only received information over the radio from their engineers.
Due to the renewed delay, the teams had to send their mechanics back to the cars to cool the engines and brakes and put the electric blankets on the starting tires.
However, the FIA timing screen did not show that the second start would be cancelled. Instead, the officials informed the teams via their radio channels and the world public via the media communication groups.
Alfa Romeo mechanics climbed over the pit wall
And because the LED display did not show the second aborted start, mechanics were not quickly allowed through the pit lane entrance onto the grid as security personnel were reluctant to open the gates without ensuring proper protocol was being followed.
Understandably, it was felt that it was better to open the gates too late than too early, because if something went wrong the cars could have driven close to people who would have entered what was in doubt a still-active track.
However, two Alfa Romeo mechanics were so impatient that they climbed over the pit wall and tried to reach their cars before waiting for the others to be allowed onto the grid, which they soon did.
Once the gate was opened and mechanics flocked back to the grid, the starting procedure was reset and initiated with a typical five minute warning.