Red Bull boss Christin Horner says that there has been some healthy discussion on the track limit situation.
His driver Max Verstappen had to give the lead back to Lewis Hamilton after he — Verstappen — exceeded track limits in Bahrain, Then, in Portugal, Verstappen lost both pole position and the point for the fastest race lap after he exceeded track limits.
The problem is that track limits are enforced in some corners and not in others. A driver is only given a warning or a penalty if he gains a lasting advantage by going off the track.
“There’s a working group being created,” Horner said. “We just need to come up with something as simple, clear and understandable for drivers, fans, team etc. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”
Where does George Russell as a driver and director of GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association) stand on track limits?
“Talking on behalf of George Russell the driver rather than George Russell, director of the GPDA, it’s very difficult,” Russell replied. “I do have sympathy for the FIA, because ultimately they are just trying to make the circuits safer. That is obviously the number one priority, but it has come at the consequence of track limits over the course of these past few seasons.
“I think it goes further than just F-1, obviously F-1 can manage it very well with sensors, cameras etc. but filtering down the junior categories, they don’t have the resources to do that. Fundamentally something needs to change globally with all of these circuits and find the right balance, but I don’t have the solution.
“That’s why I sympathize. You can’t tick all the boxes; you can’t tick the boxes for safety; you can’t tick the boxes for what’s needed for motorbikes; you can’t tick the boxes for what’s needed for GT cars as opposed to F-1 cars. It’s difficult, it’s really difficult. I don’t have the answers but I guess fundamentally something needs to change long term, there needs to be almost a working group on this to find a solution. Not for next year, but it’s going to be for a few years down the line.”
“We need to discuss between all of the drivers, because obviously it is a hot topic,” Russell said. “I’m sure between all of us drivers we’ll be having a discussion at the next race about this. It’s continuous discussions between us and it’s case by case, circuit by circuit basis. Obviously, we’re coming into these issues week after week. For sure we’ll put our heads together, put forward our ideas, our views. I sympathize with the FIA, because it isn’t a simple solution.”