McLaren demanding answers following Oscar Piastri’s track limits violation at Austrian GP

Track limits were a major talking point at last season’s 2023 Austrian Grand Prix in Formula 1, with lap times being deleted due to infringements being a hot topic throughout the race weekend, leading Aston Martin to file an official protest, claiming that race officials had failed to identify all instances of infringement.

Red Bull Ring race promoters took steps to mitigate the problem ahead of this year’s Austrian Grand Prix, installing gravel traps around corners nine and 10 to prevent drivers going off the track on that part of the track, as well as adding other features. Artificial intelligence system to monitor cars The lines are visible as they hurtle around the track. Fans watching the race this weekend may have noticed new pale blue lines installed around the circuit to help AI systems detect infringements.

Despite the best efforts of the Austrian race officials, the issue of track limits remains controversial and there is a possibility of a track limit protest from the teams for the second year in a row.

At the end of Q3 at Saturday’s Austrian Grand Prix, it looked like Oscar Piastri would start third. With little time left, a strong lap put him into third place. But moments later, Piastri dropped to seventh place. Predictably, his great lap was cancelled after exceeding track limits.

The moment in question can be seen here:

talk Sky Sports F1 After the session, Piastri vented his frustration.

“It’s embarrassing for me.” The Australian driver“We did all the work for the track limits, put gravel here and there and he didn’t even go off the track. He stayed on the track. That was probably my best Turn 6 and they took it out. I don’t know why they spent hundreds of thousands changing the last two corners when there are still corners you can go off the track.”

“That was probably the best Turn 6 I’ve done, I pushed it to the very limit of the track and I think that’s what people want to see,” Piastri continued. “Again, we’ve worked a lot to iron out these issues and there’s no reason why this corner should be an issue at the track limits, especially when you stay on the track like I did or when you’re not on the gravel.

“So, yes, maybe I’m more vocal now because it’s only happened to me, but I think it’s embarrassing to see us pushing the boundaries of what we can do. [centimeter] Plus I was in gravel and messed up my rap anyway and it got deleted.”

Piastri, however, seems to have accepted his fate: “But anyway everyone else stayed on the track and I didn’t,” the McLaren driver concluded. “That’s how it is.”

But his team may not agree to the resignation, with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella seen heading off to discuss the decision with FIA officials after the session.

Will we see a track limit protest at the Austrian Grand Prix for the second season in a row?

That may be the case.

update: Medland said McLaren had indeed filed a protest over the incident.

This story will be updated with additional information.