More controversy? The FIA is making amateurs of drivers, complains Verstappen, or the saga of track limits continues

Over and over again. The International Automobile Federation has once again set track limits for the Hungarian Grand Prix and of course punishes drivers for any violation of them. That would still be fine, but the FIA is introducing a lot of confusion by first erasing the drivers’ times and then reinstating them. In an interview, Max Verstappen complains about track limits and the FIA’s behaviour.

Massive criticism of the FIA, especially from the fans, came after the Austrian Grand Prix, when the race director’s decision on track limits was blatant. At that time, Sergio Pérez was allowed to go into the final part of qualifying and only retrospectively erased his fastest times.

Pérez said at the time why he should be the one to pay for the FIA’s incompetence. After all, the new race directors Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas had already declared before the season that they would punish exceeding track limits without exception to the configuration of individual circuits. That’s still okay.

At the corners in question, where the FIA controls the track limits in such a way that drivers are not allowed to cross that white line dividing the circuit and its end, there are detectors that notify the race directors of the offence each time it is crossed and they immediately delete the subsequent lap time.

But the FIA is dealing with this even though these sensors send them no warning, no indication. Naturally, at this point, confusion ensues and the victim is once again the Mexican Pérez.

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate set a time in the middle part of Saturday’s qualifying session that was subsequently erased due to an alleged track limit infraction on the exit of turn five.

The FIA then reviewed the situation once more and reinstated Pérez’s time, only realising that he had not crossed the white line. Also frustrated was Pierre Gasly, who lost his fast time in the first qualifying segment and dropped out of qualifying.

Reigning champion Verstappen weighed in on the subject after qualifying in Hungary, and his words were then quoted by Motorsport.

Verstappen’s statement

“Last night, people started talking about Turn 13, the exit, where the line marked the limit of the track. There was a kerb and a white line next to it, which for me personally means the edge of the track. We’re dealing with so many silly little things that then make it difficult for everyone to control,” Verstappen explained.

“I don’t know, as drivers we want to help and advise the FIA, but nobody listens to us and that is very frustrating for me. I don’t want to fight with them, I just want to give them advice, but they don’t really seem to care. They actually look at us as amateurs from my point of view, and I don’t think that’s right,” the Red Bull driver continued.

“I think we can make it easier for ourselves by adding a bit of gravel to the edge of the circuit. So that it will keep an eye on it and punish those who break it. For example, Austria – why do we have limits in turn 4 and 6. There’s gravel there and if you go very wide, it damages the floor of the car and you’re suddenly slower.

“They complain a lot themselves. People of course say – just stay in front of the white line, that’s all. But that’s easier said than done,” he concluded.

F1, Motorsport