F1 drivers warned over backing up and track limits at Sochi
Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has issued warnings to drivers over track limits and backing up in qualifying ahead of this weekend's Russian Grand Prix.
F1 will return to the Sochi Autodrom this weekend after recent issues with drivers going too slowly on cool-down laps in practice and qualifying at a number of races.
The issue reared its head most notably at Monza, where a number of drivers failed to improve their time in Q1 as they avoided running at the front of the train of cars in a bid to get a tow from cars ahead.
The long run from the final corner to Turn 2 at Sochi has shown the importance of a tow in the past, but drivers have been warned about where they choose to back off in practice and qualifying.
In his regular pre-race event notes, Masi instructed drivers that they should not look to slow down towards the end of the second DRS zone at Turns 12 and 13, where drivers will be approaching at high speed.
"Any driver intending to create a gap in front of him in order to get a clear lap should not attempt to do this around Turns 12 and/or 13," Masi wrote.
"Any driver seen to have done this will be reported to the stewards as being in breach of Article 27.4 of the Sporting Regulations."
Masi also confirmed the traditional clampdown on track limits at Turn 2 at Sochi, where drivers have been known to run wide in previous years in a bid to gain an advantage.
Any driver that fails to take Turn 2 on-track will be required to follow a slip-road outlined by arrows to re-join the track at Turn 3. In a safe manner.
"A laptime achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and failing to negotiate Turn 2 by using the track, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards," Masi wrote.
"Each time any car fails to negotiate Turn 2 by using the track, teams will be informed via the official messaging system.
"On the second occasion of a driver failing to negotiate Turn 2 by using the track during the race, he will be shown a black and white flag, any further cutting will then be reported to the stewards.
"In all cases detailed above, the driver must only re-join the track when it is safe to do so and without gaining a lasting advantage."
Related video
Previous article
Only Stroll will have Racing Point upgrades in Russian GP
Next article
Honda makes changes to F1 engine after Verstappen problem
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Russian GP |
| Author | Luke Smith |
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
Eight things Red Bull must do to beat Mercedes in 2021
After seven years of defeat at the hands of Mercedes, Red Bull is as hungry as ever to secure a fifth world championship. But there are key challenges it must overcome in 2021 to switch from challenger to conqueror
