Soon 10 second penalties for track limits in F1? The pilots' opinion

10 seconds instead of 5? On a lifetime scale, such a difference is not significant, but F1 it seems like an eternity. And it is precisely for this reason that the FIA ​​would consider increasing the penalties for exceeding track limits, which have multiplied in recent years, particularly on circuits with bitumen clearances.

With this possible future measure mentioned in the paddocks, the body would therefore hope to significantly reduce the gaps of drivers who are ever closer to the limits, both of their cars and of the track. And the question divides.

For Leclerc, “10 seconds is too much”

Questioned at a press conference, Charles Leclerc was very frank on the subject: “I felt like the five seconds were already painful enough. Ten seconds, in my opinion, is too much. »

According to the Monegasque, the FIA ​​should first make the white lines demarcating the track more visible, before thinking about increasing the penalties. “The main priority should be to fix or help us better respect these track limits, because at the moment, given the state of the white lines, we don't really see them,” believes the pilot Ferrari, fourth in Bahrain.

Present at his side during the Wednesday press conference, George Russell shares his opinion. “I think it's hard to really understand from a TV how difficult it is from inside a car,” recalls the Englishman.

“You sit so low. You only see the first 15 centimeters of your tires and the cars are driving 70 millimeters from the ground, or even less at the end of a straight line. So, we need a buzzer that we can feel, and ultimately, on some tracks that we go to, there is no track limit issue. So we just need to find a way to solve the problem. »

Hülkenberg open to the idea of ​​change

However, not everyone is open to a change in regulations. This is the case, for example, of the experienced Nico Hulkenberg : “It’s true, it’s hard to see (track limits, Editor’s note). Some tracks are better than others, but I think it would force us to be more careful, for sure. So why not ? »

“I think it’s a little harsh. If you go off the track you get a penalty and whether it's 5 seconds or 10 seconds… We're all pushing and we're all trying to stay within the limits of the track,” adds Lance stroll.

“Some of the biggest issues are actually the current situation of the track limits… If we change the actual nature of a lot of circuits and that allows you to stay within the track limits, but also if the limits are more penalizing – gravel , grass – in case of outings, we would have less of this problem”, concludes the CanadianAston Martin.

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Kelman Marti