Lewis Hamilton revealed how a set-up change on his Mercedes caused a handling imbalance which led to his repeated track limits violations early in the Austrian Grand Prix.
He was the first of seven drivers to be penalised for exceeding track limits during today’s race. Hamilton explained he reduced the flap angle on his front wing before the race began in an attempt to improve its rear end balance, but ended up with too much understeer in the final corners.“We took out a lot of front wing,” said Hamilton in response to a question from RaceFans. “We knew we had a really bad rear end here so we took out a lot of front wing to try and keep that balance so that we could do a long run, go long.
“And we massively under-egged it. I was, like, almost full lock around the last two corners. Going into turn 10, it was just sliding and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
The majority of drivers were given warnings for exceeding track limits during the race. Hamilton said changes are needed at the Red Bull Ring to prevent so many penalties occuring.
“I think they need to probably find a new solution for this track,” he said. “Years ago when we didn’t have track limits thing the track was much more enjoyable to drive.
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“It’s strange to be driving and have to have to almost comment on the car ahead because that’s what the team have asked you to do. I think they did it in Austin a couple of years ago. That’s not racing, right.”
“He was going off so much, it was insane,” said Hamilton. “As soon as he got past me he went off like at least 10 times and so did Perez. Perez would go off turn nine, turn 10 and he didn’t get a penalty. So obviously they should just be able to go off and none of us get a penalty.”
Hamilton’s messages about track limits became so insistent that team principal Toto Wolff spoke to him twice on the radio.
Selected radio messages between Hamilton and his team
| Bonnington | Track limits, exit turn 10. |
| Bonnington | And we now have two tracks limits for exit of turn 10. |
| Bonnington | Okay Lewis we’ll get a penalty. Next track limit will be penalty. |
| Hamilton | Just have a look at those because some of those are bullshit calls. |
| Hamilton | Where am I losing time mostly? |
| Bonnington | Start 13 when you can. |
| Bonnington | To Norris it was mainly the DRS gain that he had. |
| Bonnington | Sainz now the car behind 1.4. |
| Hamilton | Big de-rates. |
| Bonnington | Lewis we have a five-second time penalty for track limits so got to keep it clean from now on. |
| Hamilton | Yeah okay mate. |
| Hamilton | Where was that track limit? |
| Bonnington | They’re all at turn 10, all at turn 10 from what I see. |
| Hamilton | Guy ahead just went off at turn 10. |
| Bonnington | Copy, it’s Perez. |
| Hamilton | They can brake so much later than me. |
| Hamilton | Sainz went off in turn seven, also, mate. |
| Hamilton | Perez completely off at turn nine. |
| Hamilton | Perez completely off at turn 10. Has he got a penalty yet? |
| Hamilton | This guy’s been off every single time. Turn 10, again. |
| Bonnington | It looks like they’re at least 10 laps behind dishing out these penalties. Sainz has one now. |
| Hamilton | Has Perez got a penalty yet? |
| Hamilton | That’s Lando off, nine and 10. |
| Hamilton | Norris off again turn 10 mate. |
| Hamilton | Has anyone else got a penalty? |
| Wolff | Lewis, they’re all going to get penalties in front of you. Keep going. |
| Hamilton | I’ve seen that car [Norris] make turn one once. |
| Hamilton | Is there a reason why the stewards haven’t given those penalties yet? |
| Bonnington | They are still dishing out warnings and penalties. |
| Wolff | Lewis the car is bad, we know. Please drive it. |
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2023 Austrian Grand Prix
- Mercedes left scratching heads by lack of performance at Austrian GP
- Verstappen’s determination to grab every point makes him a record-breaker
- Austrian GP track limits farce was avoidable like ‘IndyGate’ and Spa 2021 – Brown
- Alpine now “definitely beatable” for McLaren after upgrade – Brown
- Paddock Diary: 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
elchinero (@elchinero)
2nd July 2023, 17:01
Needs to replace/fire his techno staff (?)
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
2nd July 2023, 21:03
with Roscoe.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
2nd July 2023, 17:05
Getting basically told by your boss to get on with it is not a good look. I get that understeer didn’t help matters, but I struggle to believe he was the only person out there struggling with handling.
Though I do get the complaint about the inconsistent application of the white-line rules. Racing drivers are always going to exaggerate, so I don’t take Lewis on his word that Lando went wide 10 times, but I did see a lot more off-track moments than warnings/penalties. Perhaps the stewards were more lenient in the race, but if they were not consistent, that’s a problem.
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd July 2023, 17:10
@wsrgo The rule application was generally consistent in the race, though.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
2nd July 2023, 17:19
@jerejj Didn’t have a chance to follow onboards live, so if that’s the case, then I retract my statement. From the outside looking in I was convinced that Perez had gone over the white line at least five times.
osnola
2nd July 2023, 17:27
If you look at the onboards of Lando you can see they were extremely lenient with Lewis. He deserved way more penalties.
Not impressed by stewarding.
melanos
2nd July 2023, 17:33
Yes, and bears do () in the woods
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd July 2023, 17:11
He should’ve simply started taking more speed off into the last two corners to be safe.
Pete
2nd July 2023, 17:22
“Years ago when we didn’t have track limits thing the track was much more enjoyable to drive.”
You mean the runoffs were more enjoyable to drive? As for finding another solution, they already tried that and the drivers all complained. They could put gravel around the edge of turn 10 but then someone would get hurt and the drivers would blame the track.
The solution in my opinion would be much stronger penalties. Go off twice and it’s a 5 second penalty. Go off a 3rd time and it’s a drive through. Go off after that and it’s a black flag.
He wants us to believe it was impossible to stay on the track but that’s just a blatant lie. It was impossible to stay on the track and continue to lap as fast as he was – sure. He could have slowed down and remained on the track easily.
Kribana (@krichelle)
2nd July 2023, 17:27
I expected them to add front wing based on his radio messages in the first stint, but I was surprised he was slow. I guess Austria has never been his style of track.
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
2nd July 2023, 17:27
The car isn’t driving by itself. That front wing can’t even reach the steering wheel.
I suspect the culprit for the penalty might have been in the only seat in the car.
osnola
2nd July 2023, 17:28
Impossible, never /s
melanos
2nd July 2023, 17:28
Keep Calm and Carry on
Owen Smart (@smartez)
2nd July 2023, 17:55
Anyone or anything else’s fault but his
MCG (@malrg)
3rd July 2023, 1:12
I think it is the cars fault, they need to set it up properly, then they can send it out without a driver.
SteveP
3rd July 2023, 20:29
You guys did actually read this (below) at the start of the article, didn’t you?
Or did you just read the first two words of the first sentence and then start typing?
krisby
3rd July 2023, 22:01
surely the simplest solution is to reduce speed slightly? If the car can’t do it, the car can’t do it. Its not the tracks fault.