Racing on the Edge: FIA's Warning Puts Austrian F1 GP on Thin Ice

Racing on the Edge: FIA's Warning Puts Austrian F1 GP on Thin Ice
19 October 2023 by    1 min read
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Oct.19 - Organisers of the Austrian GP seem calm about FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's warning that the race at the Red Bull Ring could be axed.

The 'track limits' situation and festival of often-delayed rulings about deleted laps was nothing short of farcical at this year's Austrian GP, but Ben Sulayem lost his cool after more issues recently in Qatar.

"The solution is to improve the tracks," the FIA boss said. "We had the same issue in Austria - it was 1200 (violations) there.

"I know some are resistant to it, but quite honestly, if they don't (improve), there is no race. It's as simple as that. We can't afford this."

Many F1 team bosses support Ben Sulayem's stance over the farcical track limits situation, raising the real spectre of axed circuits deemed inappropriate for the sport.

A spokesman for the Red Bull Ring in Austria is quoted by Speed Week: "We are in constructive communication with the FIA and (MotoGP's) FIM and are constantly working to meet all requirements."

At the same time, the FIA has upped its game since Austria, with Auto Motor und Sport reporting that the number of personnel monitoring live track limits in Geneva was doubled.

New software was also implemented to better monitor problem corners and kerbs, meaning driver infractions were added to the FIA system without delay.

"I have to say, congratulations to the stewards because they spotted it," Ben Sulayem conceded after Qatar. "But is that the solution? No."

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5 F1 Fan comments on “Racing on the Edge: FIA's Warning Puts Austrian F1 GP on Thin Ice”

  1. Blo

    These are some of the best drivers in the world on the safest tracks. If they cannot keep within track limits they have only themselves to blame. They are CHEATING.

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  2. Jere Jyrälä

    Either put the same material used at certain Bahrain corner exits that's both effective & safe or alter the last two corners at Red Bull Ring into a single long right-hander as this would make staying on track easier & likewise with Losail's four or three consecutive fast corners in S3.

    • ReallyOldRacer

      Jere, the FIA has mandated tremendous safety features at tracks around the world. Track limits are a DRIVER responsibility, not the governing body or track builders.

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  3. smokey

    The whole track limits debacle is really farcical.
    Why not employ a system similar to that used in major tennis tournaments, so that when a car crosses the white line it activates a visual warning in the car and alerts the driver. At the same time a signal could be transmitted back to the stewards to give an immediate notification of track limits being exceeded.
    Max, Oscar and Fernando don't seem to have the same problems with track limits as some of the others!

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