F1 drivers mixed feelings on Red Bull Ring gravel trap track limits

In a move away from the trend of having tracks surrounded by acres of tarmac run-off, which hardly dissuaded drivers from going over track limits, the beach-able gravel on the edge of the track will punish the errant or reward the brave. Last year 47 lap times were deleted in Qualifying alone!

The tweaks to the track were discussed by F1 drivers during the FIA-hosted pre-Austrian Grand Prix press conference at Red Bull Ring on Thursday, ahead of the first practice day of the weekend in Speilberg.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said of the modifications: "It's interesting. I've seen pictures. These two corners were quite tricky already before the gravel trap that we have now in those corners, in Turns 9 and 10. But I guess that now it's pretty clear where the track limit is.

And we won't have this type of problem anymore, which is a good thing. But again, I've still got to drive the track to tell you exactly what I think of it, but on paper, it looks positive," reckoned Leclerc.

Red Bull's triple F1 World Champion Max Verstappen, late to the press conference, also shared his views on the track mods at what is his second 'home' race. Expect large swathes of the Spielberg hills set to be coloured orange over the next three days.

Sharing his thoughts on the track mods, Verstappen said: "It's a great track to drive. I always enjoy it a lot, and especially the high-speed corners around here, they're a lot of fun. But, of course, with the layout that we have, with the run-offs naturally behind it, we're always talking about track limits.

"It's a bit of a problem as well, where throughout the lap, the tyres are overheating, the front tyres are getting really hot, so you naturally just understeer wide, and sometimes it happens already on the entry of the corner that the outcome on the exit is one or a few millimetres, which then gives you a track penalty.

"I just hope maybe the gravel will stop that a little bit. Naturally, you have to be a bit more careful and be a bit more precise. So, we'll see if it's the right way. I think no one has a clear solution at the moment for what is best.

"Of course, we have to share the track also with MotoGP, for example, and other categories. It's a bit tricky to come up with the best solution around here," ventured Verstappen, a five-time winner of the Austrian Grand Prix at his team's home track.

Also chipping in, the driver most likely to test the effectiveness of the kitty-litter track limits, Williams driver Logan Sargeant said: "It's always tricky here. I don't think it'll completely solve it, to be honest. I managed to do track limits in Imola in Turn 9, which is almost impossible. So if they can do it there, I think it's still possible to do it here.

"And I would like to see a way in the future where it's completely eliminated with the design of the track. I think there's always an opportunity to do it, and there's no reason for that," added the American.

Stake F1 Team Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu agreed: "I think there will be still track limit [infringements, for sure, but it’s a nicer way to be understanding you're out if you touch the gravel. There's certain tracks where every driver is quite happy. But let's see I think it still will be a difficult one to judge."

"It's a good modification," reckoned VCARB's Yuki Tsunoda."But let's hope it won't be like Monza, second chicane, that all the gravel comes onto the racetrack and increases the chance of a puncture. That's it. But hopefully, it's good."

FP1 on Friday in Austria, will provide the first indication of the effectiveness of the back-to-the-future track limits implemented this weekend. Rule of thumb suggests, much like walls, gravel traps on the edge of tracks (eg. Melbourne an example of both) keep drivers in check.