Following Aston Martin's protest of the result of the Austrian Grand Prix, 8 drivers are hit with post-race penalties.

Speaking on Friday after almost losing out in qualifying after having his time deleted for exceeding the track limits, Max Verstappen described the situation as amateur.

Little did we know that it was going to get worse... a lot worse.

Track limits remained a factor on Saturday, and consequently it came as no surprise when race control started issuing warnings once the race got underway.

As the majority of drivers continued to run wide first came the black and white flags and then the penalties.

As drivers were notified that they had received a penalty the poachers quickly became gamekeepers advising their teams - and thereby the stewards - of other drivers committing an offence.

Shortly after the race, as we contemplated the ridiculousness of the situation, Aston Martin protested the result, claiming that a number of drivers had exceeded the limits without punishment.

Sure enough, it was confirmed that the provisional result had been issued before a number of violations had been included, the delay down to the fact that these were violations picked up by the FIA's control room in Geneva.

It's understood that in total there were over 1,200 violations over the course of the race, which officials admit caused an "unprecedented situation".

"Regarding the track limits infringements, we note that due to the specifics of the circuit layout and the propensity of many drivers to repeatedly drive outside of the boundaries of the track, an unprecedented situation arose which resulted in all potential infringements not being able to be reviewed during the race.

"Prior to the submission of a protest against the result, we had already begun a full review of the track limits infringements, which is ongoing. During the grand prix, race control was tasked with reviewing well over 1200 instances where a car was reported as potentially leaving the track.

"The results will be updated once the review of those which were not able to be reviewed during the race is complete."

It was subsequently confirmed that no less than eight drivers received post-race penalties between them, including Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.

Understandably, the FIA has strongly recommended that a solution be found to the track limits situation at the circuit.

"In order to address the issue for future events we will renew our recommendation to the circuit to add a gravel trap at the exit of Turns 9 and 10," said the spokesperson.

"We note that while this is not a straightforward solution in relation to other series that race here, it has proved to be very effective at other corners and circuits with similar issues."

While the race ended at around 16:30 local time, the result was not officially confirmed until 21:45.

The post-race penalties were as follows:

De Vries: 5 second time penalty for forcing another driver off the track
Sargeant: 5 second time penalty for exceeding track limits
Magnussen: 5 second time penalty for exceeding track limits
Ocon: 5 second time penalty for exceeding track limits (x 2)
De Vries: 5 second time penalty for exceeding track limits
Tsunoda: 5 second time penalty for exceeding track limits
Tsunoda: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits
Sainz: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits
Hamilton: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits
Gasly: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits
Albon: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits
Ocon: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits (x 2)
De Vries: 10 second time penalties for exceeding track limits

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by elsiebc, 04/07/2023 16:28

"MotoGP riders have a very clear view of where their front tires are. If you want to make that comparison than you have to let the drivers sit higher in the cockpit.
At Monaco they can keep it in the white lines because there is a wall there that is higher than they are. Let's take the walls out of Monaco and see how many cars they're fishing out of the harbor next year.
If it's the design of the track than maybe we should get rid of all off camber decreasing radius corners, and any corner that is "challenging".
And finally if you're in the camp of "other drivers didn't have a problem", in light of the number of racers making their way around Spa each year, that you're not part of the chorus calling for a re-profiling of Eau Rouge.
"

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2. Posted by Burton, 03/07/2023 17:01

"Make the drive-through and stop-and-go the default punishments again and this nonsense from the drivers stops in a second."

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3. Posted by nash, 03/07/2023 15:43

"1200 violations... 71 laps... 1200 / 71 = 16.9. So almost every driver every lap. They should put in a row of spikes."

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4. Posted by yakker, 03/07/2023 13:45

"Why enforce a white line as track limits in the first place? As Lando said, Verstappen can stay within the lines out front and still pull away. But if you have a car that is difficult with someone trying to overtake then you are pushing to the edge all the time. Easier to ignore the painted track limit lines and let everyone race without stupid penalties.
If they continue with the track limit, then the FIA MUST inform the driver they exceeded the limit within one lap of the infringement, otherwise it is not counted. At least then we wont have the farce as yesterday."

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5. Posted by Superbird70, 03/07/2023 12:53

"Maybe the simpler and more cost effective solution, since half the field had difficulty driving between the lines, is to find drivers that can stay within the limits. The ones that could focus on driving seemed to perform better overall."

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6. Posted by ian_w, 03/07/2023 11:45

"One has to wonder if there will be more appeals? My understanding is you get three strikes, then a warning and a subsequent infringement is a black/ white and a 5 sec penalty. A further infringement is then a 10 second penalty, but the next resets back to 5.

But what if due to the backlog in reviewing, you were never given fair warning of the infringement? Was everyone properly warned of their three strikes and given a warning? It seems rather unfair to be assessed a penalty you expected only after a warning that never came? Was it just Ocon who never got the warning or did the team not get the warning to pass along?

Also, to the 1200 reported/able incidents and only 83 verified, when they tightened up the rules, they made it exceeds the outside of the white line. Much harder to assess in the painted curbs than the INSIDE of the white line. That way, as soon as you see white paint below both inside wheels, foul. Very simple and consistent to detect. "

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7. Posted by kenji, 03/07/2023 9:05

"Some time back when this issue was debated I suggested that F1 should adopt the MotoGP solution of utilising the long lap penalty to be served within a prescribed time and if not then the felon is blackflagged. Yes, it would cost lots but it is a great solution IMO.

"

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8. Posted by Spindoctor, 03/07/2023 6:44

"I'm all for drivers respecting the limits, but it seems odd that there were so many violations at this particular track. The most grave issue for me is that FIA seems incapable of issuing the notifications in good time.

Justice delayed is justice denied. This post-race messing with the results is ludicrous & farcical
A penalty designed to discourage exceeding the limits & encouraging compliance is hardly effective if it isn't applied in real time. In MotoGP (for example!) riders are informed almost immediately that they have infringed the rule and have the option to modify their riding accordingly.
"

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9. Posted by kenji, 03/07/2023 2:49

"@Dirt....statistical analysis is all very well but it doesn't tell the whole story. First look at the numbers shows that whilst lots of drivers were 'clean' enough not to warrant a penalty there were loads of them who were repeat offenders and that's where the question of driver ability comes into play. Some drivers need to be told their fortune, eg, witness the frustration of Wolff who had to tell the GOAT to just drive the car instead of running a continuous and boring dialogue of 'others' misdemeanours!. I personally don't believe that the track needs any further modification rather the drivers themselves need to modify their approach and if they continue to ignore track limits then pay the price. In fact I'd go so far as to further modify my original suggestion of a standard 10K euro fine to a doubling of that amount for each successive infringement. "

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10. Posted by kenji, 03/07/2023 2:27

"Tighten and simplify. How hard can it be? One illegal track limits excursion followed by a warning. Second offence a 'stop and go' and a 10K euro fine. Let them race as hard as they want but pay for the privilege of 'leaving the track'. It is possible to race hard and incident free.....without the swagger, 'we are racing drivers and will always take it to the limits'!!! That's all well and fine, no problem, however bend the rules to your own benefit at others expense, pay the price. Problem solved."

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11. Posted by Dirt, 03/07/2023 2:25

"So, ~1,200 reports of track violations over the course of 71 laps equates to ~17 violations per lap. It's staggering that, on average, 17 out of 20 cars had a potential (or reported at least) violation *each and every lap of the entire race*. Say what you will about track limits, but the sheer volume of violations here vs. other tracks tells me the problem is not the fact that F1 has track limits, it's that the entrance/exit of a few Red Bull Ring corners are profiled counter to the natural flow of the racing line. In other words, it's the design/shape/profile of the track that's the cause, not the fact that the F1 stewards to or do not try to enforce track limits."

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12. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 03/07/2023 2:13

" The stewards are starting to remind me of those referees at world cups and other big-time international events who think that people are there to see them.

Also, I don't gamble, but I'm curious about those betting places covering F1. How much of a nightmare it is for all involved when the stewards decide to mess with race results well after the race is done."

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13. Posted by Superbird70, 03/07/2023 0:17

"Maybe a better solution than the time penalties would be loss of DRS for remainder of race?"

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14. Posted by The stogie, 02/07/2023 22:33

"When will this abject stupidity ever end? The 'best racers in the world' are held to Mickey Mouse club racing rules. 'Exceeding track limits' must end and sooner rather than later. Liberty is selling entertainment and not racing so if it's paved let them race. And STOP letting the stewards ruin every race!!"

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15. Posted by Jet Jockey, 02/07/2023 22:17

"Total joke! F1 is a farce!"

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Post-race penalties chaos at the Red Bull Ring

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