F1: Track limits will again be issue at COTA say drivers

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen feel that track limits will again be an issue in this weekend’s USGP, but both feel the problem is solvable.

In Thursday’s driver press conference at the Circuit of the Americas, AutoRacing1.com asked them to comment on the track limits issue that has become rather ridiculous at times.

The FIA President Mohammad Ben Sulayem is blaming the tracks, and insists they make changes or lose their race, but others are blaming the drivers because the accelerator works both ways.

We asked the drivers, what is the solution, or is there a solution.

Max Verstappen responded, “some tracks have a lot of runoff and naturally you find the track limits a little easier (less danger of having a bad accident) because we never have the issue in Suzuka which is more of an old-school track (less runoff, more danger), there we don’t seem to have that problem.

“The latest track standards have something to do with it, and it is a bit of a shame. I feel like on some of these new tracks you are more focused on not going over the white line than finding your limit (as a driver), the pure enjoyment of pushing.

“Instead it’s more, oh did I make it or not, yeah I made it (stayed within the line). We need to do a better job because I think this weekend it is going to be the same story.”

“I have similar feelings,” said Charles Leclerc.

“Some tracks it is a little easier to manage than others, Qatar was one of those where it was hard, and I think here it will be as well.

“I prefer the red and white curbs because this is a reference we can actually feel in the car, whereas with the white line, we are so low in the car that it is very difficult to see exactly where we are.

It is hard to judge whether we were outside the line by 2cm whereas with the curb, you can feel much more (through your hands and backside) what is going on.

“The white line is the way it is at the moment, we just need to try to find a better way, especially the way the curbs are done, and the tracks are made.

“We need to help each other (FIA, tracks and drivers) going forward for it to become less of an issue in the future. “