Why are track limits so strange in racing? Why not just make the white line the limit period. Rich the white line at all, you’re out of the track. It’s so strange…
I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been automated by now
Apparently it is in some motorsports. I dunno which ones but a quick search had mention of sensors and stuff.
It really should be automated and strict AF. Should be akin to of it was gravel on the other side of the line.
Yeah thing is that formula1 is not a sport but entertainment. So they want to have referees that can influence the game to push a narrative, just like in NBA.
In MotoGP racing, it’s handled quite well. They cancel laps for qualifying and during a race, you get an official warning. You do it again with the warning up, you get a ‘long lap’, which is a small track-detour. Makes you lose a few seconds and with close competitors, also places. It’s an immediate punishment during the race for ‘touching the green’ - the area on the corner exit outside the kerb. Touching kerb is fine, touching green area is a no-no.
It happens every race to a few riders and it’s a fuck around and find out event for people who have a warning up on their name.
“If a rider goes outside track limits during a Free Practice, Practice or qualifying session – onto those areas outside the track surface that are painted green – it’s an easy one: the lap is cancelled.”
“[…]if a rider goes onto the green area three times, they’ll get a Long Lap penalty.”
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023/08/17/explained-track-limits/475875
Having watched the BTCC this year. Because it sucks.
Regarding the onboard footage of Albon’s car, the stewards ruled that while it was significant, it had been available to Haas, and therefore was not new and also not relevant
Meanwhile, despite the outcome of the hearing, the stewards also noted that they found “their inability to properly enforce the current standard for track limits for all competitors completely unsatisfactory and therefore strongly recommend to all concerned that a solution to prevent further reoccurrences of this widespread problem be rapidly deployed”
So, the fact that Albon is going over track limits they don’t even mention, just that the footage has been available the whole time, and then the stewards even admit themselves they didn’t do a good enough job.
I don’t like track limits any more than anyone else but the fact that the teams are not all beholden to the same rules in equal measure it sure seems unfair. How the stewards can just admit they suck and not be open to liability is beyond me.
I think it’s another flawed rule. Haas had it, but that doesn’t mean they had the time to check it.
Aston martin checked and submitted footage on track limits violations within hours of the Austrian GP. Not only did Haas have it, they had plently of time to review it as well. The problem here is that haas are none operationally speaking. Took them 2 weeks to find and highlight this
