Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas VF-23. 20.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 19, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Qualifying Day – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Coates / XPB Images
The Haas Formula 1 Team has petitioned the FIA with a right of review concerning alleged track limits breaches at the United States Grand Prix.
The team believes that a number of drivers took liberties with the track limits at the Circuit of the Americas two weeks ago.
Competitors have been analysing on-board footage from the race which show a swathe of potential breaches at Turn 6 which went unflagged in the FIA’s record of lap deletions during the Austin race.
However, the circulation of on-board footage revealing potentially repeated creative interpretation of the track limits at Turn 6 by some drivers has been enough to prompt Haas to call for the matter to be re-examined.
The FIA had admitted that the CCTV and monitoring infrastructure in place at the circuit was not sufficient for proper policing of track limits with the accuracy required, limiting the punishments it could apply at COTA.
At the time, the Stewards said: “Based on the video footage available (which did not include CCTV), the Stewards determine, whilst there might be some indication for possible track limit infringements in Turn 6.
“The evidence at hand is not sufficient to accurately and consistently conclude that any breaches occurred and therefore take no further action”
Haas feel that the FIA’s explanation as to why only some track limits infringements were counted is unsatisfactory, and the team has now filed an official request for the FIA to reinvestigate the situation.
As reported by AMuS, it is understood that Haas has sent detailed on-board footage from drivers it believes were guilty of the repeated breaches at Turn 6, as well as from the cars following potential offenders, in an effort to highlight the unpunished infringements.
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Haas VF-23. 21.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 19, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Sprint Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images
It is believed that footage from the cars of Sergio Perez, Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant and Lance Stroll has all been forwarded to the FIA for investigation.
The application of any additional penalties could prove a significant boost to Haas who believe that Nico Hulkenberg, who officially classified 11th, would have found his way into the points had track limits enforcement been accurate and consistent.
The FIA has acknowledged the American squad’s petition and plan to reconvene next week to determine whether the evidence presented is sufficient to reinvestigate the case.
As per Article 14.1.1 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, the sport’s governing body may decide to re-examine its decisions following a petition for review provided that a “significant and relevant new element is discovered which was unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned.”
What is unclear, however, is whether the evidence that Haas has supplied will constitute as a ‘significant new element’ to the FIA since the stewards have full-access to on-board cameras during the running of an event.
On-board footage alone will likely be deemed insufficient by the FIA as it offers no clear view of the positioning of all four wheels in relation to the white lines.
A spokesperson for the governing stated: “The FIA will update its monitoring infrastructure to provide enhanced coverage to ensure that any potential breaches can reliably be identified during the race in future.”
Keyword: Haas lodge review of US GP track limits breaches