After several lap times were deleted in qualifying, the FIA has once again adjusted the track limits in Austin – Significantly fewer violations in the shootout
This change came a few hours too late for Max Verstappen: the FIA adjusted the track limits in Austin at three corners ahead of Saturday’s sprint shootout – including at turn 19, where the world champion lost his pole position in Q3 on Friday.
“There were just too many overruns [on Friday],” Helmut Marko explained on Sky, adding, “Unfortunately it only came today, otherwise we’d be on pole.” The track limit rule has remained the same, but the FIA has used a little trick.
Thus, in turns 9, 12 and 19, they have widened the white line that is decisive for the track limits. This now extends over part of the curbs, effectively making the track wider and giving the drivers more room to maneuver.
The change comes after several drivers complained about the situation in the drivers’ briefing on Friday. Previously, eight lap times had been dropped in qualifying, including Verstappen’s supposed pole lap.
Although the change comes too late for the world champion, Marko welcomes it. “I think that in the last few races, as in Doha with the tire regulation, good decisions are being made in the interests of the sport,” praised the Austrian.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also takes the change sportingly. “This will make tomorrow’s Grand Prix more exciting,” he says on Sky about the deleted Verstappen time. As a result, the world champion will only start the race from sixth on the grid on Sunday.
In fact, the change seems to ease the track limits situation considerably. In Saturday’s sprint shootout, where the new track limits were used for the first time, only one of Pierre Gasly’s lap times had to be cancelled.
The new track limits are to be used until the end of the race weekend.
