Zero tolerance for track limits abuse in Hungary

There will be zero tolerance for track limits abuses during the race and in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in an effort to clamp down on drivers drivers attempting to gain an advantage by running wide at Turns 4 and Turn 11 at the the Hungaroring.

Infringements will be monitored electronically on the exit of the kerbs, picking up when a car strays beyond the track limits by more than 20 centimeters.

In qualifying times will be deleted if a driver is monitored going beyond the designated limits and in the race three contraventions will trigger a warning to said driver and his team, before a fourth violation will result in a drive-through penalty.

The FIA said in a statement on Friday: “We will be adopting a zero tolerance approach to cars leaving the track at Turns 4 and 11 during qualifying. Please note that this will be judged by the use of timing loops in the kerbs and, to ensure that we see no false crossings, we would like to make it clear that the loops are set up to register a crossing when a car is approximately 20cm beyond the while line. Every lap time achieved by leaving the track will be deleted in accordance with Article 12.3.1.d of the Sporting Code.”

“During the race, and in accordance with Article 27.4 of the Sporting Regulations, any driver who is judged to have left the track three times at these corners (when counted cumulatively) will be shown a black and white flag, one further crossing will result in a report being made to the stewards for not having made every reasonable effort to use the track. As discussed, this is likely to result in a drive-through penalty for any driver concerned.

“However, if we are satisfied that a driver left the track at these points for reasons beyond his control, having been forced off the track for example, lap times will not be deleted during qualifying nor will such a crossing be counted towards a drivers total in the race.”

The new system appears to clarify what was a gray area with regards to Formula 1’s track limits rules.

Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247