F1 drivers warned over corner-cutting at Raidillon
Formula 1 drivers have been told that practice laptimes, as well as qualifying efforts, will be deleted if they are found to have abused track limits at Spa-Francorchamp's Raidillon corner.
The FIA has been tough on drivers trying to straight-line the track at the top of Eau Rouge, and a detection loop was brought into play a few years ago to help better police matters.
Ahead of the Belgian GP, F1 race director Michael Masi issued revised event notes that confirmed that lap times in practice as well as qualifying would now be erased.
He wrote: "A laptime achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and cutting behind the apex of Turn 4, as judged by the detection loop in this location, will be invalidated by the stewards.
"On the third occasion of a driver cutting behind the apex of Turn 4 during the race, he will be shown a black and white flag, any further cutting will then be reported to the stewards.
"Each time any car cuts behind the apex, teams will be informed via the official messaging system."
The only circumstance under which a driver will not be punished is if the FIA judges that he was forced off the track – but this will be judged on a case-by-case basis.
Masi's revised event notes also eased off on an original plan to punish any driver who crossed the red/white/green chevrons that separate the pit entry and the track.
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Alex Marquez makes “unacceptable” gear-shifting mistake twice in wretched Japanese GP
Andrea Stella: F1 must avoid Sepang repeat, but "accept occasional glitches"
Bubba Wallace "paid the price on our front tires" in battle for Vegas win
How Elfyn Evans made WRC history in Hollywood blockbuster Sardinia decider
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi
The wide world of strategy options expected in F1's Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments