Components 1 drivers have come out in favour of the FIA’s monitor limits experiment on the Austrian Grand Prix.
At Flip 9 and 10, which was the location of over 1200 monitor limits offences final 12 months, the FIA and the Purple Bull Ring have put in narrower kerbs bordered by strips of gravel, which decelerate drivers earlier than they cross the white line.
The brand new answer wasn’t excellent, and Oscar Piastri‘s deleted lap in qualifying after marginally crossing the road in Flip 6 prompted further debate, however on the entire, drivers have backed what was completed to Turns 9 and 10.
“I feel it is positively one which works very properly right here this weekend, that is confirmed for certain,” stated Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg.
“There are different options, we’ve got different tracks just lately the place with several types of kerbs that additionally sort of make it very unimaginable to run vast, in order that kills monitor limits.”
Fernando Alonso stated not having to attend for limitless stewards’ hearings and choices has made the weekend way more easy, even when he was struggling for efficiency within the Aston Martin.
“I feel we needs to be proud of this answer,” he stated. “I do not assume that we needed to wait an excessive amount of to see who’s on pole, who will not be, to assessment the laps and issues like that. So it is a lot [more] easy like that. All in all, Positive suggestions.”
Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Workforce VCARB 01
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
However with gravel being scooped again onto the circuit by drivers that go off, the present experiment is not solely with out its flaws both.
“I do not know if it is an ideal answer, however it’s a higher answer,” stated Alpine driver Pierre Gasly.
“Possibly we will take into consideration if there’s something higher, however generally arriving in a nook with various gravel in your line, it isn’t excellent.
“Nevertheless it positively appears to work and it is higher than what we have seen final 12 months with the penalties after the race, so a very good enchancment.”
Daniel Ricciardo stated he was tempted to duck to guard his knuckles when drivers in entrance of him threw up rocks of gravel.
“Clearly, when individuals go off all of the gravel will get dragged on the monitor, so each run you do have to complete just a little bit narrower as a result of there’s gravel creeping increasingly more onto the circuit. In order that’s the one draw back,” he stated.
“Within the dash race I feel Hulkenberg went off a few instances on the final nook – take these fingers off the wheel for those who can! As a result of these rocks harm like hell! It is a couple of little issues, however typically, I am proud of it.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, runs by the gravel
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The enhancements have been considerably overshadowed on Saturday night time by Piastri’s deleted lap, which prompted an unsuccessful protest by McLaren.
“We have completed plenty of good work as a sport eliminating these monitor limits points. Amazingly, I’ve managed to seek out that there’s nonetheless one someplace,” stated the Australian.
“So, clearly very irritating. One other centimetre to the best and I’d have been within the gravel and my lap would have been over.
“And I feel for me that is what racing in F1 needs to be all about. Pushing the bounds and taking the dangers.”