Sergio Pérez, teammate of the Dutch driver in Red Bull, saw his first lap of Q2 erased due to an alleged infraction of the track limits at turn 5, but the stewards gave him back that time after verifying that his turn had been totally legal a few minutes later.
The new FIA race directors, Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas , are tougher on track limits this season, as from the start of the campaign they explained that the white line marked the limit of the track and that all laps that exceed it would be eliminated.
Pierre Gasly was also left frustrated after being eliminated for a time for the same reason that he was knocked out of Q1.
Speaking on the subject after qualifying for the Hungarian GP, reigning world champion Max Verstappen said that while the drivers had asked the FIA to be “clearer and stricter” on track limits, he gets the feeling they’ve gone too far.
“Last night, they started talking about turn 13, the dashed line was the limit of the track,” said Verstappen.
“There was a curb and a white line next to it, which for me personally is the actual edge of the track. We have a lot of things that are small that also make it difficult to watch.”
“I don’t know, as drivers we always want to help and offer our advice, but nothing was heard and for me that is extremely frustrating.
“I don’t want to fight with them, I just want to advise them, but they don’t seem to care.”
“Actually, I think they see us a little bit as if we were rookies and I don’t see it as correct,” he added.
Verstappen explained that what is shown by onboard cameras in F1 cars often does not give the correct perspective to judge the limits of the track, and called on the FIA to use harder limits, such as gravel.
“I think we can do ourselves a favor and make it a lot easier by adding a bit of gravel on the exit of corners or whatever,” said the Dutchman.
“In Austria, for example, why do we need track limits at Turns 4 and 6? There is gravel, but even if you go off you will be penalized, but you will already damage the ground and your car will go slower.
Perez said the fact that he had his time erased and then reset during Q2 was “baffling” and said the current system “isn’t really up to scratch”.
“We have to review it and see how we can change it for the better, to have something that is more consistent,” said the Mexican.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen agreed with both Red Bull drivers: “It’s very frustrating and I don’t know why they do it that way. I don’t see who benefits from it.”
