Following the controversy around track limits that erupted over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull Ring executives have committed to cooperate with the FIA in finding “a joint way forward.”
The FIA will renew its recommendation that the Red Bull Ring install a gravel trap at the exit of Turns 9 and 10 to address the issue of track limits violations in light of an unprecedented situation in the Austrian Grand Prix.
According to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, the sprint event weekend was reduced to a mockery and made F1 appear a little bit amateur.
This comes after race control had gone through 1200 potential infractions across the 71 laps that eventually came to light, and there were an astounding 83 deleted laps during the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Following an Aston Martin protest, it has been revealed that a number of deleted laps were allegedly overlooked during the grand prix. Seven drivers were given time penalties for repeat offenses during the race.
Several time penalties were handed out, some of which were enforced after the race which caused a late reshuffle of the race results. This particularly affected Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes, who dropped down the list of the top 10.
The fact that race control has been imposed with a reconciliation of all deleted laps with penalties applied suggests that additional penalties could be imposed after the race if it is determined that multiple infractions were in fact overlooked.
This situation has called into question the outcome of the Austrian Grand Prix. After every potential track limits violation that was not examined during the race has been reviewed, the results will be amended.
The circuit has been advised once more by the regulatory body of motorsports to add a gravel trap at the exit of turns 9 and 10, the corners where the vast majority of the infractions originated.
The FIA used the phrase “renew” with the understanding that both current race director Niels Wittich and former race director Michael Masi have previously recommended measures be done to prevent situations like the one that occurred at the circuit during the weekend.
Considering the speed applied through the two problematic turns in F1, a similar deterrent would be effective there, but safety in MotoGP would be jeopardized.
When approached by the media on the issue, Wolf opted not to comment leaving a circuit official to merely say: “The Red Bull Ring is in constant contact with the FIA and we will evaluate together on a joint way forward.”
Given that the circuit has already disregarded the FIA’s advice twice, it is currently unclear what steps, if any, will be made over the ensuing 12 months ahead of the event next year.
