After a weekend of warnings and punishments for track limits at the Red Bull Ring, Christian Horner pointed to the chance for the problem to increase
The Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix, held last weekend, was marked by track limits. The race management detected at least 43 infractions throughout the race, in addition to several laps deleted in qualifying. The most notable of these happened to Sergio Pérez in Q2 on Friday, and the Red Bull Mexican ended up punished, starting Saturday's sprint race outside the top-10.
After Max Verstappen, world champion and Pérez's teammate at Red Bull, also criticized the track limitations and punishments, team boss Christian HornAfter Max Verstappen, world champion and Red Bull teammate Perez, also criticized track limitations and penalties, team boss Christian Horner admits to fears of an increase in infractions at the French GP at Paul Ricard, which is the next round of the World Championship.
"I think the problem is the nature of the circuit, which invites many drivers to use track limits," Horner told Autosport magazine when talking about Austria. "And of course, many drivers committed infractions over the weekend. I think my concern is not so much there, I think Paul Ricard will be a bigger problem, because there is advantage to be gained there, apart from the hectares of asphalt, practically inviting you to pass on the outside," he added.
Paul Ricard returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2018 and drew attention for its long asphalt exhaust areas, with no grass or gravel boxes nearby, and colored stripes designed to reduce the speed of cars. The circuit is also famous for being narrow. A notable case of track limits happened at the 2019 French GP, when Daniel Ricciardo received a 10-second punishment for performing overtaking on the outside of the track on the last lap.
Haas driver Mick Schumacher agreed with Horner on the issue of track limits at Paul Ricard. "It's something to be discussed, especially to see if we can improve something at the next event, because especially at Paul Ricard it's a big concern. It even seems a bit silly to pass a centimeter of track and take a five-second penalty. Most of the time when you go off the track you don't even gain time, which is worse," said the German driver.
The French GP takes place from July 22 to 24. The Paul Ricard circuit is located in the southern city of Le Castellet, 784 km from Paris. The race will be covered LIVE and in REAL TIME by GRANDE PRÊMIO.