lThe solution has arrived late, but it has arrived. For years, when F1 lands in Austria there has been the same problem, track limits. With all the technology in the Great Circus, it seemed impossible that every weekend at the Red Bull Ring stewards had to cancel many laps and even the pilots defined it as “shameful.”
Last year, Race direction eliminated 47 laps in qualifying alone because of these ‘track limits’. The fault was that, in the last two curves of the route, there were very wide asphalt gaps and the drivers unconsciously took advantage as much as possible to gain time, as they do in many circuits where despite covering more metres, Being able to brake a little less compensated in the speed with which one returned to the track if the line was rushed.
In the case of Austria exceeded the limit and the FIA stewards, who had to monitor and record each infringement, only with video images, so some very tight infractions by millimeters escaped and that caused protests from many drivers and teams, especially in 2022 and 2023.
President, Ben Sulayem left Styria last year saying it would be the last time something like this happened and that solutions would have to be found, which seems to have happened.
More than 100 laps canceled in 2023
More than 130 laps eliminated throughout the weekend and 20 penalties is an image that the highest category of motorsport does not want to give. All this, together with the statements of the drivers criticizing the situation, forced the promoters of this circuit to think about possible solutions, but with a handicap. These modifications had to be beneficial for F1, but without harming the safety of MotoGP, which also contests its test in Spielberg.
The solution
The solution was easy. They couldn’t change the asphalt for gravel, as it would have been dangerous for the World Motorcycle Championship event. So, as MARCA was able to verify on site this Wednesday, They have added only two gravel strips in the last two corners, 9 and 10These strips are about two metres wide, which will allow them to be easily removed or filled in when the MotoGP event arrives from 16 to 18 August.
The gravel or rather crushed stone has been placed in the last section of the outside of the curves, because It is where the pilots arrive at high speed and they used to cross the white line that marks the runway limits.
With this measure Track limit penalties should be reduced to a minimum, because the drivers will not want to step on the gravel, as that ruins the final time. It remains to be seen if they will work properly.
The pianos are identical
MARCA has been able to verify firsthand that the pianos are the same as last year. Red Bull has suffered on routes with high curbs this year, due to the suspension change and some peculiarities of its chassis and The curbs are maintained, with very little step, something that in theory should not harm the behavior of the RB20, as happened this year in Imola or Canada, where Verstappen won, but due to details and a car that is not the fastest in the end of week.
The 47 laps eliminated in the 2023 qualifying
You only have to remember who left last year to see the extent of the problem. Norris and Sainz, with six laps canceled or Verstappen, with 4, were among those who fell the most in one of the last two corners, while AlonsoFor example, he had two exits, like Stroll, with the AMR23
Laps canceled on Saturday
1. Nico Hulkenberg (1)
2. Lando Norris (1)
3. Lando Norris (2)
4. Carlos Sainz (1)
5. Carlos Sainz (2)
6. Carlos Sainz (3)
7. Max Verstappen (1)
8. Max Verstappen (2)
9. Lando Norris (3)
10. Lando Norris (4)
11. Lewis Hamilton (1)
12. Lewis Hamilton (2)
13. Guanyu Zhou (1)
14. Guanyu Zhou (2)
15. Nyck de Vries (1)
16. Pierre Gasly (1)
17. Pierre Gasly (2)
18. Esteban Ocon (1)
19. Esteban Ocon (2)
20. Kevin Magnussen (1)
21. Kevin Magnussen (2)
22. Carlos Sainz (4)
23. Lando Norris (5)
24. Lando Norris (6)
25. Yuki Tsunoda (1)
26. Carlos Sainz (5)
27. Max Verstappen (3)
28. Sergio Pérez (1)
29. Lance Stroll (1)
30. Max Verstappen (4)
31. Fernando Alonso (1)
32. Sergio Pérez (2)
33. Fernando Alonso (2)
34. George Russell (1)
35. Sergio Pérez (3)
36. Esteban Ocon (3)
37. Oscar Piastri (1)
38. Alexander Albon (1)
39. Valtteri Bottas (1)
40. Nico Hulkenberg (2)
41. Pierre Gasly (3)
42. Pierre Gasly (4)
43. Alexander Albon (2)
44. Alexander Albon (3)
45. Lance Stroll (2)
46. Alexander Albon (4)
47. Carlos Sainz (6)
