Kevin Magnussen has taken aim the track limits rules for the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix that saw all but two drivers receive at least a warning, for going over the white lines at the Red Bull Ring.
Only Max Verstappen and George Russell escaped without being warned by the stewards in Formula 1‘s 10th race of the 2023 campaign and for Magnussen, it is ruining the racing.
“It’s a fun track,” Magnussen said to the media. “But it’s bulls**t when it’s like that, you know? It ruins the whole thing. It ruins the fun.
“You can’t push, so it’s better when it’s just a natural limit. I actually think that this track does have a natural limit with these low cars and these big curves. You wouldn’t be going faster if you went over [the limits].”
The main culprit for track limits violations was Turn 10 in Spielberg, which is the final corner on the circuit where drivers seek to carry as much speed as possible for the long pit-straight.
Stewards not to blame
Lewis Hamilton also was not best pleased with the limits, frustrated at his own penalty for exceeding the white lines before reporting anyone else he saw doing the same.
Track limits used to vary from corner to corner, but was changed to a hard defining white line following criticism of the consistency of the rule, and for being difficult to follow.
Magnussen stopped short of blaming the stewards for the situation, and told media that the governing body is exploring alternatives.
“I know that the FIA is looking at a better solution,” Magnussen added. “I think it’s better to be pragmatic and use common sense on each track that we go to.
“But I don’t think the FIA is loving this situation either, so I don’t think we can blame it on them.”
Where is the next F1 2023 race?
With the F1 circus finished in Austria, we move on to the 2023 British Grand Prix which will be held at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, England over the weekend of July 7-9.
