FEATURE
Bauer encourages interaction between the Motorsport UK scrutineers and the teams and with the predominant number of teams UK-based, that makes things very easy. They understand it is a necessity to work with the scrutineers and Mason says that“ most of the time” they embrace it and are happy to work together.
“ Friday practice is a good time to get to know the team and to understand how they work on the cars,” says Alderman.“ If we’ ve got any questions, or if they do something we’ re not sure of, we can ask what they’ re doing so that during qualifying, and the race, we know and we can just make the notes we need to make.
“ We generally try to stand out of their way and stay as far back as we can but sometimes, we need to get a little bit closer, just so that we can see what they’ re doing. It can be difficult when the mechanics are all on the car at one time, so you must get in there to try and see what everyone’ s doing.”
The F1 scrutineers arrive at the garage a quarter of an hour before the session starts and stay there until the end of each session. After qualifying, however, the cars enter Parc Fermé conditions, and they must remain with their team until‘ cover up’ – two hours after the chequered flag – at which point the cars are sealed overnight.
The teams have an FIA-approved list of what they can do in terms of changes to the car during Parc Fermé. Additionally, there are some exceptional cases where some modifications are allowed, such as when climatic conditions change and the teams are permitted to change some of the cooling and ventilation on the car.
Teams can also apply to make specific changes by sending a formal letter to the FIA and must show the approval letter to the scrutineer before they do the work. Some have letters dated and pre-approved for the whole year, permitting them to carry out engine checks or other analysis or examinations, as long as the scrutineer confirms the letter’ s validity.
Mason adds:“ If it’ s a small component, the teams might change it in the garage under the eyes of the scrutineer, but if they have to take it away – so something like a floor, seat or wing repair – we have additional scrutineers who will then team up, one staying with the repair part and one with the car, to make sure there’ s a pair of eyes on both at all times.
“ When they replace the bigger parts, they must do weight checks and dimensional checks on both the existing and new components to make sure they are the same before they’ ll allow it to be swapped over. The team will move the wing into the right place, but they won’ t be allowed to do so unless there is a second pair of eyes on the process.
“ If the car’ s still in bits due to accident damage or a major repair when it comes to cover up, teams can apply for a curfew break, but generally the cars are covered up and all the parts have got to be in, around or underneath the car and under the covers. Overnight, there are CCTV cameras in the garage above the cars which are all active all night.
“ The cameras are monitored for motion around the garage to make sure there’ s nobody in and around the car, and on Sunday morning the scrutineers come back on site and will be with the cars from covers removal, which is 10 o’ clock on race day morning. Then they are then back in Parc Fermé conditions until the race starts.”
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John Harland, Deputy Chief Support Races, overseas the measurement checks in the F3 scrutineering bay
Will Gray
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Revolution- October 2025