To be a safe driver, there must be limits. These limits are put in place to ensure the safety of both the drivers and the staff at the circuits. Without these limits, F1 would not be as safe as it is today.
Not every track is made equal with some tracks having more limits than others. While it’s necessary to have track limits, that doesn’t mean it comes without scrutiny. But can you ever be too safe? F1 is constantly evolving to be safer, and with that evolution comes the ever-changing track limits.
What are track limits in F1?
Simply put, a track limit is where you have to stay within the lines of the track. What this means is that you must keep at least one wheel inside the white lines at all times. This is to stop the drivers from cutting corners and gaining an advantage. Even though sometimes it is hard to stop yourself from going outside of limits, it is necessary for the safety of the drivers.
Race stewards were inundated with track limits violations at the Red Bull Ring last season 🚨
This year should be different, as @lawrobarretto explains 👇
#F1 #AustrianGP https://t.co/GkDgk8sSCe
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2024
Some tracks have had more issues than others. With these tracks, the limits have to be heavily enforced and scrutinized. In the past gravel, grass, and asphalt have been used to slow drivers down after exceeding track limits. The usage of runoff areas and the materials used has also been heavily criticized.
What is the penalty for exceeding track limits in F1?
If you go outside of the track limits, you risk receiving a penalty. During the free practices, going outside of the track limits does not warrant a penalty. For qualifying, the driver loses their lap time. Going outside of track limits during qualifying could also mean that the driver drops places on the grid as their lap times are deleted.
As for the actual race, the drivers are given three warnings before they are handed a penalty. After the three warnings, time penalties occur. For the fourth infringement, 5 seconds, and for the fifth, 10. One track that has been an issue in the past is the Red Bull Ring.
F1 tracks where track limit penalties are common
After the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix finished, 8 drivers received time penalties for exceeding track limits. With multiple track limit violations throughout every session, F1 had to make some changes. One of the changes they made was by installing a gravel strip. This paired with the changing of the line placement served as a deterrent for going outside the limits.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says certain venues must address track limits problems, or they will risk losing their slot on the Formula 1 calendar.
Asked by @Motorsport what he was going to do about the track limits problem after the sometimes farcical scenes in Qatar,… pic.twitter.com/gCwAWGA0Ai
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 10, 2023
Another race where drivers have issues is at the Qatar Grand Prix. The Lusail International Circuit has also seen many track limit violations. At this particular track, turns 5 and 13 are major issues. At one point, Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez was told he was “hurting his team” with his collection of time penalties. After the race, Perez admitted that he could have done better.
With drivers like Perez admitting fault over track limits, do you think F1 should enforce the rules more or less?
