Max Verstappen won Austria, but the race was not without controversy. Credit: Reuters/Leonhard Foeger
Toto Wolff, Christian Horner and Formula One of the governing bodies called for changes to the Red Bull Ring's final corner after more than 1,200 potential track violations led to a farcical situation when the result of the Austrian Grand Prix remained uncertain for five hours after the checkered flag.
Once again, the race on the track was marred by driver fines for exceeding track limits throughout the weekend. Many drivers were penalized five seconds for repeatedly going off the track during the race, with over 100 laps removed. Turn 10, the last turn of the track, was where the vast majority of violations occurred.
Aston Martin, whose cars finished sixth and tenth on the track, filed a protest claiming that several drivers were not fined. during the race when they should have been, leading to a further post-race review by the FIA, F1's governing body.
“An unprecedented situation has arisen whereby all possible infringements could not be considered during the race ”, the FIA said in a statement.
“During the Grand Prix, race control was tasked with checking over 1,200 cases where a car was reported to have the potential to leave the track.”
After watching the laps, the biggest winners were Lando Norris, who moved from fifth to fourth, and Fernando Alonso, who moved from sixth to fifth. Lewis Hamilton dropped to eighth, moving his teammate George Russell to seventh. Carlos Sainz dropped from fourth to sixth place, while Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll switched places to 10th and ninth respectively.
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Wolf, Mercedes team principal, called the situation “the worst possible” and urged F1 to consult with the great Austrian Niki Lauda. “Of course, fans, spectators, teams, drivers are very upset that these penalties continue,” he said.
“There are only two solutions: either return to sausage curbs that break drivers and cars, and then no one should complain. Or just remove them all and you'll let them race in the fastest lane. That's what Niki Lauda has always said.
“You can get close to some rails, but we need to find a solution in the interests of the track, which is a super track – a traditional track – and all stakeholders, because we want to achieve of the same: a spectacular race that is not affected by penalties given for the right reasons, because the rules exist.”Toto Wolff was among many who called for changes at the Red Bull Ring. Photo: AFP/Christian Bruna
The FIA has suggested that a gravel trap will be added for future F1 races on the circuit, although this is far from ideal for motorcycle racing.
“We note that although it's not an easy solution compared to other series running here, it has proven to be very effective on other corners and tracks with similar problems,” the post reads.
Wolf also said. that Mercedes had a team in the UK that monitored its drivers the way the FIA does with fines. This did not stop Hamilton from receiving a five-second penalty for exceeding the limits on the track.
Hamilton was unhappy with the way it was applied, and even more unhappy with the fact that he saw Sergio Pérez's numerous exits ahead of him. . “This guy was out every time. Turn 10 again,” Hamilton said over the radio.
Horner, team principal at Red Bull, called the situation where drivers constantly run away “amateurish.”
He suggested that a gravel strip, rather than a full gravel trap, should be added to the turn, a solution flexible enough to perhaps allow MotoGP and F1 to race safely on the track.
“The track invites you there, so I think this is something that needs to be looked at next year to perhaps add more deterrents to the drivers that will be drawn to this part of the track,” said Horner.
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