FIA to strictly monitor track limits
The FIA stewards will have all their eyes on drivers exceeding track limits with Turn 1-2, 5 and 11 being in the centre of attention during this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
With rebuilding many gravel run-off zones into tarmac sections in recent years, drivers started to exploit every time to be gained by exceeding the track limits. The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is a track where gaps are usually tiny due to its characteristics which makes it even more vital for drivers to find the extra drops of performance on their qualifying laps.
The most critical coner is Turn 11, named as Parabolica. FIA has installed timing loops around that quick corner to monitor track limits. FIA race director Michael Masi communicated in his Race Notes that „a lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track (all four wheels over the white track edge line) on the outside of Turn 11, will result in that lap time and the immediately following lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
As for the first chicane, four rows of polystyrene blocks have been placed in the escape road to stop drivers rush at full throttle after failing to slow down for Turn 1. Any driver using the escape road must go around the end of each of these rows and re-join the track at the end of the escape road.
At the Variante della Roggia, „Any driver going straight and who misses the black and yellow bumps placed before the apex kerb of Turn 5 (second chicane) must stay to the right of the yellow line and the bollard, he may then re-join the track at the far end of the asphalt run-off area after the exit of Turn 5.
„A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race in this manner will result in that lap time will being invalidated by the stewards,” says the FIA statement.
On the third occasion of a driver cutting behind the apex of Turn 5 and/or crossing the white line on the outside of Turn 11 during the race, driver will receive a black and white flag. Should he cut the chicane any more time, he will be reported to the stewards.
Moreover, for reasons of safety, during each practice session, acts such as weaving across the track to hinder another car may be referred to the stewards who can impose a penalty should they find that the driver impeeded his rival or drove ina dangerious manner.
Masi has also confirmed the minimum time that drivers stay below on in laps and reconnaissance laps iIn order to ensure that cars are not driven unnecessarily slowly. This means that drivers must
