The FIA has made a quick overnight adjustment to the pit lane setup at Sepang International Circuit ahead of Friday's practice sessions. The governing body moved the pit-entry bollard that had been causing headaches for drivers during the opening two practice sessions for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The original positioning at Turn 15 created a tricky situation where any driver running wide and passing the bollard to the right would be forced to commit to the pit lane rather than return to the circuit.

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Several drivers ran into trouble with the original setup. Liam Lawson and Valtteri Bottas both received black-and-white flags in FP1 for not following the procedure after running wide, while Kimi Antonelli suffered the same penalty in FP2. George Russell, however, complied with the rule and entered the pits after passing the bollard. The situation highlighted a genuine safety concern that could have caused real problems during the actual race, especially if drivers were battling hard into that final corner.

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The FIA acted swiftly to address the issue, amending the Race Director's notes overnight and moving the bollard further back from the circuit edge. This change means drivers who run wide at Turn 15 can now safely stay on the track without being forced to navigate the bollard and commit to a pit lane excursion. It's the kind of practical fix that shows the FIA paying attention to driver feedback and preventing potential chaos that could have unfolded during competition.

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The adjustment demonstrates how important it is for officials to listen to concerns raised during practice sessions. What looked like a straightforward rule in theory clearly didn't work in the real world of racing, where drivers are pushing limits and sometimes running wide while battling their rivals. By moving the bollard overnight, the FIA has removed a significant potential flashpoint that could have frustrated drivers and sparked controversy during qualifying or the race itself.

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