Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racingi in the FIA Press Conference. 19.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 19, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Preparation Day.
Max Verstappen is expecting a “similar story” to Qatar when it comes to track limits at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend.
Last time out, the discussion over track limits dominated the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, with a total of 51 lap times being deleted during Sunday’s race in Losail.
That resulted in 10 time penalties being awarded – including three for Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez.
Lance Stroll, who was one of those to pick up multiple penalties, branded the policing of track limits “a joke” before remonstrating that the stewards “don’t understand F1”.
Verstappen has questioned why the topic is rarely ever mentioned at older circuits like Suzuka, which largely avoid asphalt run-offs to deter drivers from venturing wide.
“At some tracks there’s just a lot of run-off, so naturally you find the limits a bit easier,” Verstappen explained on Thursday ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
“We never really talk about track limits for example in Suzuka and that’s probably a bit more of an old-school track.”
The debacle in Qatar followed a similar situation earlier in the year in Austria, when there were over 100 track limit violations investigated by the stewards post-race.
Verstappen has also blamed the newer venues on the roster and the extensive run-off areas present at those select circuits for the growing problem F1 has encountered.
“For sure the latest track standards, they have a thing to do with it,” he added.
“It’s a bit of a shame because I feel like with some of these new tracks that you’re more focussed on a quali lap not to go over a white line than actually finding the limit or just the pure enjoyment of pushing.
“It’s more like you’re looking ‘oh, did I make it or not?’ and then ‘ah yeah, I made it’. So it’s a bit odd.
“But we need to do a better job because I think this weekend will be the same story.”
The Dutchman also rejected the notion that drivers should reduce their speed to ensure they remain within the confines of the track.
“I will happily let anyone else drive my car and see if they can do better with track limits,” he concluded on the matter.
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari. 19.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 19, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Preparation Day.
Meanwhile, along with Verstappen, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also considers the issue to be dependent on the circuit configuration.
“There are some tracks that are much more difficult to manage than others,” he confirmed. “I think Qatar was one of those, here it probably will be one of those, too.”
Leclerc has suggested using the kerbs to define track limits would avoid the confusion that has arisen from instructing drivers to remain within the bounds of the white lines.
“I’ve always preferred in the past to use the red-and-white kerb because this is a reference that we can actually feel inside the car,” he reasoned. “Whereas the white line, we are so low in the car that it is very difficult to see exactly where we are.
“If we are two centimetres out or exactly on the line is very difficult, whereas with the kerb you can feel it much more what’s going on and it’s a better reference.
“But now it’s been quite a long time that we are staying on the white line and it’s the way it is at the moment. We just need to try and find a way, especially with the way the kerbs are done and the tracks are made in order to help each other for it to become less of an issue in the future.”
Stroll ended the Qatar race situated ninth on the road, which would have granted him his first points since the summer break.
However, penalties dropped him to 11th. Like Verstappen, the Canadian is anticipating the order in Austin. being impacted by penalties awarded for track limit infringements.
“There’s a few corners here you’ve got to watch out for,” Stroll warned. “So I think it’s something to think about at a lot of tracks now with the track limits being a challenge.”
Keyword: Verstappen expecting ‘same story’ with track limits at COTA