Multiple Drivers Penalized for Track Limit Offences
Several drivers faced penalties for exceeding track limits during the qualifying sessions at the Qatar Grand Prix. The issue persisted during the sprint event on Saturday, even after the white lines had been shifted at Turns 12 and 13 to protect the tires from kerb damage.
One of the drivers who received a five-second penalty was Lance Stroll, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also faced the same consequence. For Leclerc, this penalty dropped him down the order and affected his overall race result.
The issue of track limit violations has sparked discussions among teams, drivers, and officials regarding finding solutions to prevent recurring incidents. Fred Vasseur, team principal of Alfa Romeo Racing, has urged the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) to address this matter and come up with effective measures.
Vasseur believes that it is crucial for the FIA to work closely with circuit designers and engineers to create tracks with inherent solutions to track limit breaches. He emphasizes that finding a balance between enhancing safety and preserving the thrilling nature of racing is essential.
The penalty system for track limit offenses has been a topic of debate within the Formula 1 community. While some argue that stricter penalties are necessary to deter drivers from exceeding the limits, others believe that a more lenient approach should be adopted.
As the championship progresses, it will be interesting to see if the FIA implements changes to the track limit rules or introduces new measures to deal with the issue effectively.