Yesterday, Formula 1 held its customary race at the Austrian Red Bull Ring circuit in Spielberg. However, throughout the entire weekend, the race officials’ screens were filled with notifications regarding track limit violations. The issue of track limits has increasingly become a problem without an apparent solution.
Yesterday evening, Aston Martin also pointed out that many penalties had not been given, and by filing an appeal, they prompted the stewards to review all 100 deleted laps.
The request from the race officials
After spending the evening rechecking every single lap of all the drivers, the stewards communicated, through an official document, all the penalties that had not been issued live during the race. Eight drivers were involved, and as a result, the final classification changed dramatically.
In the notes of the mentioned document, there is also an explicit request from the stewards: “The race officials strongly recommend finding a solution to the track limits problem on the circuit.” The dilemma arises mainly in the last two corners of the track, where, in order to gain more speed on the main straight, a wider line in turn 10 is favored, pushing the limits of the sensor embedded in the asphalt.
Over the years, various solutions have been attempted in that section of the track to try to address the issue: grass, high kerbs, and even asphalt. However, according to the director of the racing facility, the main problem is that two-wheeled vehicles also race at the Red Bull Ring, and therefore, a solution must be found that doesn’t compromise the safety of motorcyclists. Gravel seems to be the most feasible option for both categories of motorsport, and according to some rumors, it could be implemented as early as next year, considering the extension of the contract between Formula 1 and the Austrian Grand Prix until 2030.
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