The FIA reopens the debate on track limits for the French Grand Prix
After an Austrian Grand Prix marked by numerous penalties for many drivers due to track limits, the FIA announces that they will continue in the same direction at Le Castellet.

The Austrian Grand Prix was marked by a rain of penalties related to track limits, with Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly, Sebastian Vettel, and Yuki Tsunoda each receiving a 5-second penalty, not to mention the many other drivers in the lower categories. Faced with this high number of infractions, many drivers have requested a relaxation from the FIA regarding these famous “track limits”. The track at the Austrian Grand Prix was defined by white lines along the road, and any driver who had all four wheels outside of this line was penalized.
Many drivers have deemed the FIA too strict in defining the limit this way, Max Verstappen, who narrowly escaped a penalty, expressed his thoughts on the matter: « Of course, everyone has the right to have their own opinion, but regarding track limits, I think this debate over the weekend was a joke. Not just in F1, but also in F2 and F3. »
« It’s easy to say from the outside, “yeah, just don’t cross the white line.” It certainly sounds simple, but in reality, it’s very difficult in some high-speed blind turns. The slightest understeer can throw us off, the tires wear out, and it’s very easy to end up on the other side.
»
These comments do not seem to have affected the FIA. Eduardo Freitas, race director, announced in his latest statement that “track limits will be defined by the white line”. In addition to once again imposing strict limits on drivers, the FIA is adding very precise procedures to be followed in order to rejoin the track in the event of an exit.
How will the drivers have to reach the runway?
In this same document, the race director explains the procedures to follow in order to rejoin the track in case of an exit, and in the event of non-compliance with these instructions, penalties may be applied.
« Any driver who fails to negotiate turn 2 using the track and completely passes to the right of the first fluorescent yellow marker at the apex of the turn must stay completely to the right of the fluorescent yellow marker and rejoin the track by crossing the two rows of blocks in the escape area, passing to the right of the first row and to the left of the second. »
« Any driver who fails to negotiate turn 4 using the track and completely passes to the left of the fluorescent yellow marker must keep completely to the left of the fluorescent yellow marker and rejoin the track by driving to the left of the barrier in the escape area before turn 5. »
And finally, any driver who goes straight to turn 8 must rejoin the track by driving through the four rows of blocks in the escape road, to the left of the first one, to the right of the second one, to the left of the third one, and to the right of the fourth one.