Formula 1 drivers have called on the FIA to do more to stamp out track limits offences after a string of infringements went unpunished at the previous round.
A total of 35 lap times were deleted for track limits infringements during the United States Grand Prix. Only one driver, Alexander Albon, was given a penalty. However in their judgement on him the stewards noted they had not been able to examine other infringements at one corner.“Based on the video footage available (which did not include CCTV), the stewards determine, whilst there might be some indication for possible track limit infringements in turn six, the evidence at hand is not sufficient to accurately and consistently conclude that any breaches occurred and therefore take no further action.”
Several drivers believe at least one of their rivals took advantage of this to gain time at the corner, and have called on the FIA to enforce the rules more rigidly. “We really need to look into it and find a solution because I don’t think it’s a good look in general to have these kind of things,” said Charles Leclerc.
“There are few other examples in the past where there wasn’t exactly the right camera to look on one particular corner and then you can go wide and nothing happens. But then if you go one millimetre wide in a corner that is controlled, then you get binned and it can ruin your weekend.
“So on these kind of things, I think we’ll have once again to discuss with the FIA to try and understand what they can do in order to have just a better system for it to be more regular. Because obviously looking at one particular driver in turn six in USA, for me the evidence of the onboard was clearly an ‘off’, to judge that off-track.”
Leclerc praised the FIA’s decision to help drivers stay within track limits at turn 19 by painting a thicker line at the exit of the corner. “There’s definitely been some steps forward,” he said. “Then of course, the last race there were a few things in the race that are not still at the level where it should be.
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“But at least there’s been an understanding from the FIA that it’s not that we don’t want to comply with the rules, but it’s just that at one point it’s just extremely difficult. We are speaking about centimetres at such high speed and it’s very difficult for us to judge because we are so low inside the car.
“By widening the white line in some of the corners, that went towards our direction and then after that, we didn’t see so many track limits [infringements], at least in those corners. So I’m pretty sure that we are all starting to realise that there are some opportunities to be improving in that. And I am confident that the FIA will do everything for it to be better soon.”
Valtteri Bottas acknowledged the FIA faces a difficult task in monitoring all corners for track limits abuses, but said drivers were disappointed problems with corners at the Circuit of the Americas had not been addressed after the 2022 race.
“Definitely everyone gave the feedback last year and everyone was expecting some changes to be made,” he said. “There wasn’t, but hopefully next year.”
“It’s hard work for the FIA to monitor every single driver, every single corner and lap,” Bottas added. “I think it’s almost impossible, so sometimes you might get away with it. But it’s tricky and it’s track-dependent, completely. Austin is really provoking everyone to go to the limit. It’s the same in Qatar, because there is a gain to be made if you can carry a bit more speed.
“There needs to be a hard limit. It’s been a discussion point for a long time. I think the only thing was all the drivers were quite surprised that there were no changes made from last year to this year in Austin. There was no different kerbs or gravel strips or anything to prevent that.
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“We just want to see that we keep improving those things instead of – we had issues there last year and now there’s the same. There needs to be change done whether it’s gravel or some other kind of kerb or something to prevent this.”
He is hopeful the problems seen in Austin will spur the FIA to take action for next year. “I feel like they’re starting to understand because it’s also so much work for them as well and they are getting shit because of it because they can’t spot every single mistake and situation.
“So I would imagine by now, come next year, there will be solutions. That’s what we are expecting now. I think they are taking it seriously.”
But having discussed the problem several times in meetings with the FIA, Bottas said the drivers want to see action being taken. “Things just need to be done instead of talked about. Just make hard limits so that we can’t go off the track to gain advantage. It’s as simple as that.”
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Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
27th October 2023, 15:56
In my opinion we need tracks where the drivers themselves will avoid going off track.
If a racer can gain even a thousandth of a second by drifting an inch wide then he will do it.
If drifting that inch might wipe out his front wing, or damage his floor, then he will stay within the limits.
These guys are unbelievably good drivers and are more than capable of staying within track limits.
The only reason we get these limit violations is that they are hoping teacher won’t see them being naughty.
Archibald Bumfluff
27th October 2023, 16:12
it’s a tricky thing to figure out.
How do you make a track that punishes those who stray over the lines while keeping it safe. Especially if the track is also used for bike racing.
PacificPR (@streydt)
27th October 2023, 17:25
Not sure if a bit of grass or gravel – even if it were a strip of 2 to 3 meters wide next to the track limits – makes things that unsafe.
Jere (@jerejj)
27th October 2023, 18:39
Bahrain’s solution.
Maciek (@maciek)
27th October 2023, 16:22
What about a solution where, at least for F1 race weekends, some kind of small speed bumps are installed alongside the kerbs? Nothing big enough to cause damage, but enough to cost lap time and dissuade drivers from overstepping.
AlanD
27th October 2023, 17:03
I like that solution Maciek.
Blair
28th October 2023, 0:18
Rubens flying into the fence at Imola immediately comes to mind.
If you’re in control, it’s a dissuasion, if you’re not or there’s an accident, it’s a launch pad.
AlanD
27th October 2023, 17:09
I still feel that policing the outside of corners is not in the spirit of racing. The inside of each corner defines the minimum lap distance. Yes, drivers can go faster by running wide, but isn’t the whole point of racing that they find the optimum path through the corner and not just take the shortest route through each one. It is a race, not a cycling proficiency test. If they don’t want drivers to run wide, stop putting inviting tarmac there. Put grass, sand, gravel, rumble strips, or even a wall.
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
27th October 2023, 17:22
You are clearly showing that you have not seen other comments that tracks used for motor bike races do not have the things you are asking for, IMO.
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
27th October 2023, 17:27
There is a marked difference between a wall and a white line when it comes to what can be seen in one’s periphery vision. A driver is looking inside the track where they want to go and not checking the outside once they have committed to a corner.
If an aid is required it would be a line on the track like we road users get down the middle of the road.
Jere (@jerejj)
27th October 2023, 18:40
Weird complaining & no one seemingly did corner-cutting at T6 anyway.
anon
27th October 2023, 19:37
@jerejj it’s not a weird complaint – although he isn’t named in the complaints, the drivers are referring to Perez being caught on camera cutting Turn 6 at least 28 times during the US GP, and not even being particularly subtle about it either.
AB
27th October 2023, 23:26
26?!