The new barrier which was installed at turn one for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix has been altered ahead of today’s race following complaints from drivers.
An extended concrete barrier was installed opposite turn one, preventing cars from using the asphalt run-off at the exit of the corner to immediately rejoin after turn two.Drivers who went off at the opening corner complex during practice experimented with different ways to get around it. Some crossed the grass on the inside of turn two and rejoined just before the barrier, while others turned around more sharply in the run-off area and returned to the track earlier.
Several drivers complained about the new arrangement in their regular meeting following practice on Friday. Lando Norris was among those who lobbied for an immediate change, saying yesterday “it shall be changing tonight from what I’ve heard, and I pray to god that it does.”
Ahead of today’s race the barrier has been shortened slightly, leaving a narrow opening drivers can use to rejoin the track after turn two while still keeping at least part of their car on the asphalt.
Yesterday George Russell, who is one of the directors of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said the plans to change the run-off area in the corner should have been discussed with them beforehand.
“In hindsight we probably should have been consulted about the views on that before decisions were made,” said the Mercedes driver. “We all agreed that it’s sub-optimal.”
Revised notes from race director Niels Wittich state drivers must rejoin the track via the gap between the barrier and the grass if the leave the track at this point. “Any driver who fails to negotiate with turn one should re-join the track at the far end of the asphalt run-off at the entry of turn two,” says the revised guidance for drivers.
Barrier change: Before and after
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Jere (@jerejj)
18th June 2023, 16:09
I doubt this marginal alteration of removing a single element will make a huge difference, but we’ll see.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
18th June 2023, 21:17
Just a single Concrete element that blocks the natural path to rejoin.
Ian
18th June 2023, 16:47
I think the idea is to stop cars loosing control and sliding into car at the section of track behind the new barrier. But now the cars are force to come back onto the track at a right angle to the cars exiting turn two which is crazy. They should create two short barriers that overlapped one another slightly but the cars could go behind the first barrier and rejoin the track ppinting the same way as car exiting turn two.
Alesici
18th June 2023, 19:00
I think there is one key flaw in your proposal that makes it unsuitable for F1 racing:
It makes sense.
Obviously the FIA have more information than us fans and so have been able to make a more considered design that is consistent with F1’s DNA.
JacobC
18th June 2023, 18:29
Looks like it’ll be slightly easier to position the car to see oncoming traffic as the car rejoins the track.
PeterG
18th June 2023, 18:41
It still looks like cars rejoining are going to have a far harder time doing so in a safe way that doesn’t interfeere with other cars compared to how it was
The way it was until this year at least allowed cars rejoining to do so in a very safe way given how they could easily stay well away from the racing line on the inside exit to turn 2. Now they are going to be a lot more in the way due as I just don’t see how they are going to have enough steering lock to get around that wall without having to come more onto the track than they could in the past.
I think the way that barrier was is the way it had always been & I don’t recall there ever been any safety concern with it or any previous incident that would have made it really necessary to alter it. If it was just about ensuring drivers lost more time while rejoining then why not put some of those polystyrene blocks or bollards down for drivers to negotiate around to a safe rejoin point like we see at other circuits.