In an otherwise neutralised fight out front at Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris never got closer than on the exit of the Suzuka pitlane.
Verstappen's pitstop was one second slower than Norris's (3.3s versus 2.3s), which opened the door for Norris to attack him on the pit exit - making full use of the advantage constructors' champion McLaren gets in the pitlane.
Norris began to pull alongside Verstappen as they arrived at the pitlane exit with Norris not backing out, instead skipping over the grass on the right-hand side of the pit exit.
Norris was initially furious with the incident, saying Verstappen "forced me off", but the stewards quickly noted and then dismissed the incident from needing any further investigation.
What the rules say
Rules regarding 'racing' in the pitlane are covered in Article 5, Appendix L of the FIA's International Sporting Code.
"The pitlane is demarcated such that the lane closest to the pitwall is designated the "fast lane" and the lane closest to the garages [or in some cases the "working wall"] is designated the "inner lane" [or "working lane"]," the regulation reads.
"Cars in the fast lane have priority over those rejoining from the working lane. Once a car has left its garage or pitstop position it should blend into the fast lane as soon as it is safe to do so, and without unnecessarily impeding cars which are already in the fast lane.
"Cars in either the fast lane or working lane may not overtake other cars in the fast lane except in exceptional circumstances eg, a slow car with an obvious mechanical problem, a stopped car, an obstacle."
So Verstappen had priority in the pitlane as he was already in the fast lane and had every right to maintain that as the pitlane became the pit exit.
He was under no obligation to allow space for Norris on the pit exit because Verstappen had the priority; it was down to Norris to blend in behind the Red Bull.
Instead, Norris stayed in the slow lane, trying to remain side-by-side with Verstappen on the pit exit, only to find himself running over the grass and having to concede. That in itself wasn't illegal as there's plenty of precedent for drivers trying to run side-by-side before blending in, albeit usually without running onto the grass first.
Neither driver did anything wrong, but it was some smart thinking from Verstappen not to allow space for Norris to run side-by-side on the pit exit, especially given Norris would have had the inside line for Turn 1.
'Just racing'
Norris might have been furious at the time, but after the race he'd accepted that Verstappen had every right to cover him off.
"[It was] just racing, he was still ahead, it kind of squeezes into one and Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way, a racing way," Norris said in parc ferme after the race. "Nothing more than that."
By the time the top three arrived at the press conference Verstappen and Norris were joking about the incident.
"The grass was not really well cut on the right-hand side, Lando saw that as well and made sure it was nicely cut," Verstappen joked.
Norris later explained: "The guys did a very good pitstop under pressure, it was our one opportunity to try and get a bit closer.
"I wasn't even trying to race Max, just trying to cut the grass, didn't even know he was there actually!
"No nothing, he had the position, he had the right to do what he did so fair play."
