F1: Drivers are 100% to blame for track limit violations
This notion by Ferrari F1 boss Frederic Vasseur that the tracks are to blame for driver track limit violations is simply not correct.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
The adage is: The gas pedal works both ways.
If you go too fast through a corner and run wide, you exceed the track limits and get a penalty. The driver can ease off the throttle slightly and avoid running too wide.
One solution would be to put concrete walls up along the track limit lines on F1 tracks. You’d see how fast drivers would stop running wide.
While that is an extreme solution and won’t happen, it underscores the notion that the drivers are 100% to blame for putting 4 wheels over the white track limit lines.
As stated, the gas pedal works both ways.
After the hot Qatar GP that saw a lot of drivers getting penalties for track violations [race winner Max Verstappen had zero track limit violations proving a talented driver does not do such a thing] Gasly told Motorsport.com, “it wasn’t a good day.”
“I made too many mistakes with the track limits, and it cost me 15 seconds.
“So I can only be disappointed with myself because obviously, you’re talking a few centimeters, which is nothing, but I paid a big price for it and missed out on the points. So I’ve just got to learn from this.
“All in all, it was a tough day. I had a good start but went on the outside and had to slow down with the Mercedes [incident] in front of me, so lost another two positions.
“And then after that the whole race we had energy management issues, which cost me straight-line speed throughout the whole race. I was just trying to compensate for it and took too many risks. So just not a good day for us.”
“It was the story of the whole race,” he said. “I don’t have any excuses because it’s the same for everyone, and at the end of the day, I took too many, obviously.
“I don’t know how many track limits there have been the whole race, but we were always two steps behind from what was happening, and I think it wasn’t an easy day for us.
“It was the toughest race of the year. It was clearly very hot in the car, and very physically challenging. I knew it would be like that.
“And I know I’m training really hard, and I have one of the best physical conditions in the paddock. So I usually embrace these conditions.
“And I know it’s challenging for everyone, but today I just didn’t do a good enough job, and I need to learn from this track limits story.”