FIA ease track limits after 125 offences

Michelle Foster
Romain Grosjean Algarve circuit

Romain Grosjean

The FIA announced that the track limits at the Algarve circuit have been relaxed ahead of Saturday’s final practice.

Friday saw the Portuguese circuit host the start of its first-ever Formula 1 grand prix weekend, and it wasn’t without controversy.

Track limits were strictly imposed at Turns 1, 4 and 15.

It led to a total of 125 lap times being deleted as every single one of the drivers struggled to stay within the limits.

Overnight the FIA decided to relax the limits.

Making the announcement on Saturday morning, F1 race director Michael Masi confirmed that Turns 1 and 4 will now be governed by the red and white kerb with drivers being deemed to have exceeded the limits if they cut behind the kerb.

As for Turn 15, they will need to keep a wheel inside the white line.

Masi stated: “A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and cutting behind the red and white kerb on the exit of Turn 1 will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.”

The same rule applies for Turn 4.

For Turn 15, he added that “a driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.”

Saturday’s final practice begins at 11am local time with qualifying at 2pm.

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