The case of runway limits
During the last Formula 1 season there was no shortage of controversy over some decisions taken by the Race Direction, many of which related to track limits. In qualifying or in the race, various drivers received sanctions for crossing the outer white line of the track, in some cases considered excessive. A problem that was much less present between the end of the 90s and 2000s, a period in which the battle for the title between Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen.
How to deal with curves
The Finn, two-time world champion in 1998 and 1999, explained his point of view regarding the rules on track limits in his column for Unibetinitially indicating the approach of the pilots in the curve: “Pilots always try to reach maximum speed – has explained – when you get close to the bend you try to brake as late as possible and keep the balance of the car under control, and when you take the bend you have to do it in the right gear. You have to drive close to the inside curb to then accelerate properly, and this depends on the gear and engine configuration. Coming out of the corner you calculate the speed to manage all the wheels or to have good grip with which to steer to get close to the outside white line. If there are curbs you can go over them with the outside wheels if necessary, and then you can go faster. That's how it's done.”
The differences between the F1 of the past and that of today
However, Hakkinen recalled the big differences between his years in F1 and now: “Obviously, after the white line and the curb there can be further asphalt for a few meters – he specified – in my time, however, there was grass or gravel. Today, if the car slides over the curb or the white line, the asphalt slows down the car before hitting the barriers, while on the grass the speed is not reduced at all, and the impact would be more violent. It's logical and it's a good ideabut pilots automatically think: “If I go more to the outside when exiting the corner I will be faster.” That's when the regulation comes into play.
Senseless protests
From those, the protests over some sanctions considered too severe, even if the former Finnish driver did not express any opposition to the track limits rule: “You can't go with all four wheels outside the white line, because then you would get a penalty, and that the pilots know it – he concluded – it is difficult to respect this rule, but it shouldn't be so hard precisely because the pilots are aware of it, and it applies to everyone. There's no point in complaining that the rule is stupid. Obviously it's stupid if drivers go over the limit in an attempt to go faster and get the penalty. The driver who gets pole without going over the white line thinks the rule isn't that bad. It's a complex situation: if the rule didn't exist I wouldn't be happy. With asphalt after the curb and without track limits there would be new dangers in terms of safety. The rules are the rules, and even in F1 you should also follow those relating to traffic, because those are also designed for safety.”
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