In Qatar it was a real elimination race. In addition to hot, the humidity and the high intensity of the race with the three obligatory stops, most of the complaints were also based on the track limits problem. Only one driver, Max Verstappen, did not receive a warning during the 57 laps, but by now we are used to seeing him manage a completely different type of race than his teammates. For all the others, in addition to the warnings, there are penalties, even too many. The FIA will therefore have to decide how to behave, given that on certain tracks where other categories race, especially the two-wheel ones, the track limits issue cannot be resolved with simple gravel. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has issued a harsh criticism of Formula 1 circuits that continue to struggle with track limits issues, threatening to exclude them from the competition calendar.
Chaos track limits, a difficult situation to manage
Perez, Gasly, Stroll, Albon received more than one penalty – two in the case of Albon and Stroll, three for Gasly and Perez – for exceeding track limits. Even before the race, there were several cases of track limits in qualifying, with Norris and Piastri sentenced at the end of Q3 after obtaining second and third positions respectively, during the interviews. Situations like this only end up demolishing a sport whose nature is precisely to overcome certain limits, whether in the technical field or on the track. Drivers and teams have repeatedly complained about the general chaos that prevails on tracks where track limits have a significant impact. In Losail Leclerc, in the Sprint he overtook them 4 times in a single lap.
The main problem is that there are currently no solutions that make life easier for all the categories that race on certain tracks. Abolishing them completely would not be possible because if there were no limits, drivers could theoretically use all the asphalt run-off areas to find a faster and more comfortable route. The main problem is determining whether a car passes them. This process is not always immediate and this is because a driver is usually considered to have “exceeded the limits of the track” if he puts all four wheels beyond the established limit. Although the white line is usually used as a reference, previously the outer edge of the curb was also used to mark this point.
The FIA is considering abolishing certain tracks due to track limits
Track limits vary from race to race depending on the nature of the track. The FIA decides the exact limits before the weekend and begins to apply them as early as free practice, with obviously greater attention to the race and qualifying. During the race the drivers receive two warnings before being shown a black and white flag. And the penalty is triggered from the fourth infringement. One of the issues raised by the drivers is that they don't think they should be so tough on track limits if there is no real benefit to be gained.
After a chaotic weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, marked by confusion over track limits, mixed-up grid positions and a series of penalties, the president of the FIA Ben Sulayem stated that such situations are unacceptable at the highest level of motorsport. In the case of Qatar, the problem that led the FIA and Pirelli to intervene with the three mandatory stops is linked to the curbs of the Losail track. According to the FIA president, the objective is not only to ensure that the FIA intervenes more effectively to manage transgressions, but rather push problematic circuits, such as Qatar and Austria, to change the layout to discourage drivers from exceeding the limits of the track. This would not only ensure fairer competition, but would also reduce the risk of dangerous situations on the track.
Excluding Austria and the Red Bull Ring would be a truly bad loss for Formula 1. But it is also true that episodes like that of this year's edition, with ranking changes arriving at the end of the Grand Prix and more than 64 reports per track limits are not good advertising for F1.
The words of Ben Sulayem
Interviewed by Motorsport.com Ben Sulayem said: "In Qatar we had the same problem as the Austrian GP. The solution is to improve the track itself. I know some are hesitant to do it, but truth be told, if they don't, it's no contest. It's that simple. We can't afford it. We need to work on a solution. Gravel is not a solution because a compromise must be found between the depth and size of the gravel so that it does not damage the machines. The use of technology should be there. It is used in many areas, but the FIA needs more resources to invest in the sport again. This is a $20 billion operation and we can't run it on a shoestring.”
In conclusion, Ben Sulayem also calls F1 into question, arguing that it is crucial to reach a more solid agreement with Liberty Media to obtain sufficient financing, in order to operate more efficiently. “We wish we had a better deal. Our mission is different from Liberty but in the end we are in the same boat and if we improve, the teams and the sport improve."
