Track limits in F1 have become a hot topic at the Austrian Grand Prix, with 43 crashes in the race alone, but what are they? Why do drivers tend to abuse lane limits?
Motorsports is different from most other sports in that the playing area is kind of where the competitors would like it to be.
In football, if the ball crosses the touchline, it is considered a throw-in. No warnings, just what it is.
In cricket, if a player catches the ball, but holds the ball over the boundary rope, the number will still be six, no matter how good the catch is.
However, even though motorsports have a definite playing area, drivers will always try to make it a little wider and go out of their way.
This is known as track limits in F1 – but why are drivers trying to abuse them in the first place?
- common: Why sausage restrictions are so dangerous in Formula 1 and motorsport
What are the track limits in F1
The track boundaries in F1 are defined by the thick white lines running around the circle – indicating the edge of the playing area, as it were.
The driver’s idea is simple – “Don’t go over those white lines” and stay on the dark part.
On the outside of the track, there can be runoff of asphalt, gravel or grass to deter anyone from going too wide.
A driver will be called to the track boundary in Formula 1 when he repeatedly crosses the white line without a valid reason – such as to avoid an accident.
They are also not allowed to force another driver off the track and must leave the race room outside or inside or risk a penalty.
Repeated violations in practice or qualifying will result in lap times being deleted by the hosts, with drivers risking time penalties – such as Pierre Gasly and Sebastian Vettel at the Austrian Grand Prix – if they continue to do so.
Why do drivers abuse them?
Essentially, drivers will misuse the lane limits because they are faster.
Take Turns 9 and 10 at the Red Bull Ring – the scene of most weekend crime at the Austrian Grand Prix.
They are downhill quick right hands, and any race driver worth their salt wants to carry as fast as possible through the corner as possible.
After all, when the car turns around a corner, it is moving sideways, not forward.
The best way to carry as high a speed as possible is to stop the car as late as possible on Turn 9, run wide, hold that momentum before Turn 10 and do the same again.
However, carrying a high speed means that the driver risks exceeding the limits of the track as the car cannot stay on the racing track.
The solution is simple: raise the throttle early, turn early and corner safely.
But these are the racing drivers we’re talking about: doing so means they bleed a lot of time from the competitors and the idea will be given short 100% interest from them.
It’s funny that on street tracks like Monaco, track boundaries are not an issue because pressing so hard there usually means a conversation with a barrier – a barrier you’ll lose…
- common: When did Bernie Ecclestone sell Formula One?
In other news, who is Michael Xavier? Meet Priya Murphy’s husband
[ad_2]
