P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA made overnight alterations to the track limits at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of Saturday’s running in
The issue of track limits sparked a heated debate among drivers during the previous race in Qatar, resulting in the deletion of 51 lap times and the imposition of 10 time penalties. Lance Stroll, driving for Aston Martin, criticized the decisions as a “joke” and suggested that the stewards lack understanding of Formula 1. This weekend, the discussion around track limits has continued after Max Verstappen’s qualifying time was deleted for exceeding the white line at the penultimate corner, despite him securing pole position by just 0.005s. Following discussions with teams and drivers, the FIA has widened the white line at Turns 9, 12, and 19 on the COTA track to provide drivers with more leeway. The change was particularly noticeable at Turn 19, where Verstappen had been penalized in qualifying. During Saturday’s Sprint Shootout, only Pierre Gasly in the Alpine violated the revised limits, which had no impact on his progression beyond Q1.
Source: Motorsport Week
