FIA issues track limits warning ahead of F1 British GP

The FIA has confirmed it will be monitoring the abuse of track limits at this weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

As it did at the previous races at the Red Bull Ring and Hungaroring, FIA race director Michael Masi has confirmed that it will be closely monitoring drivers abusing track limits at Turn 9 and Turn 15.

As stated in the pre-race notes for this weekend, drivers will be prohibited from going beyond the black and white kerbs at Turn 9 and Turn 15 - more famously known as Copse and Stowe.

“A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and cutting behind the black and white kerb on the exit of Turn 9/15, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.

“Each time any car passes behind the black and white exit kerbs, teams will be informed via the official messaging system.

“On the third occasion of a driver cutting behind the black and white exit kerbs at Turns 9 and 15 during the race, he will be shown a black and white flag, any further cutting will then be reported to the stewards. For the avoidance of doubt this means a total of three occasions combined not three at each corner.”

Masi also revealed having back-to-back races at the same venue will allow the FIA to fine-tune its track limits policy, depending on how the first race goes.

“It’s probably seen as a lot of deletions, but there probably weren't as many as we expected, to be quite honest,” Masi said.

“The timing loop that we had at Turn 9 worked extremely well, we're fine tuning the one at Turn 10 to help us a little bit better for next weekend, and the advantage of having two events at the same circuit is that we can get that done immediately.

“Overall, we’re very happy with the way both Turns 9 and 10 worked. And the proof was in the pudding.”