Formula 1 drivers have been warned to avoid slowing unnecessarily between the final two corners at the Red Bull Ring due to the potential hazard it creates.
During practice yesterday several drivers reduced their speed between the two corners as they tried to ensure they had a clear track in front of them to set a time. As a lap of the Austrian circuit takes a little over a minute, congestion was a greater problem when the circuit was full.Drivers pass through turn nine at around 240kph and only slow to around 190kph for the final corner. The pit lane entrance is situated between the two, meaning there can be slower cars heading for the pits at this point on the lap.
FIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has now advised drivers they may be considered in violation of article 27.4 of the sporting regulations if they reduce their speed to create a gap ahead at this point on the track. The article states “at no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person.”
Updated guidance issued to drivers on Saturday morning states: “During any practice session, any driver intending to create a gap in front of him in order to get a clear lap should not attempt to do this between the entry to turn nine through to the exit of turn ten. Any driver seen to have done this will be reported to the stewards as being in breach of article 27.4 of the sporting regulations.”
Drivers have also been warned to avoid straying into the paths of other cars at all points on the track. The minimum time drivers may take to pass between the two Safety Car lines will be used to judge “if a driver is considered to be driving unnecessarily slowly on an out lap or any other lap that is not a fast lap or in-lap.”
The FIA is considering whether changes can be made at the final two corners to improve drivers’ adherence to track limits for future events.
“We’re working together with our partners at the FIM, as well as the circuit, to try and see what solutions can work for all forms of the sport at both nine and ten, which are at this circuit, obviously the two areas where we still have ongoing the monitoring of track limit issues,” said Masi.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2021 Austrian Grand Prix
- Vasseur on Alfa’s “huge step forward” and why he’s vexed by technical directives
- How Ricciardo “got some enjoyment back” after “really low” first race in Austria
- F1’s penalty points are not “harsh” and won’t be reviewed this year – Masi
- Austrian double showed Sainz found his feet faster than 2021’s other big-name moves
- 2021 Austrian Grand Prix Star Performers
Jonathan Parkin
3rd July 2021, 10:20
I’ve just watched the opening of the 1998 race to compare and the pit lane entry is further down than it is now, so the issue is also partly that they’ve moved the pit lane entry which in these days is slightly odd.
But also I have to ask, has the last corner been reprofiled since 98. The distance between the penultimate and last corners seems reduced
petebaldwin (@)
3rd July 2021, 11:01
I did find it a bit bizarre that they found Max’s burnout extremely dangerous but were happy for drivers to do the same thing on the final turn when other cars are going full speed. You can either slow to a near stop on a live track or you can’t….
S
3rd July 2021, 12:15
It seems that F1’s sporting regulations are either voluntary, or they can only pick a certain number of them to enforce at a time.
S
3rd July 2021, 15:14
All three qualifying segments had people slowing in the final two corners to make space….
I hope more than just Vettel get looked at. Half the field was doing it.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
3rd July 2021, 16:32
Well this article aged well… :)