Stewards look to end subjective corner cutting penalties

Formula One could end it's subjective views on corner cutting by modifying track layouts that would naturally punish a driver if he goes off-track. 

The issue was brought up during a stewards meeting this week in Vienna. One example used was what happened to Lewis Hamilton at the Mexican Grand Prix this year.

"The rules say a driver can rejoin the track as long as you do it safely and gain no lasting advantage, [but] the word lasting is again very subjective," said Connelly.

"Does it mean lasting for 500m, until the next turn, the next few laps or the whole race?


"That subjectivity is removed if the circuit is modified or designed [with suitable features] to immediately disadvantage a driver if he does go off track."

Connelly referred to turn one at Monza for what could be put in place around the circuits.

"There are now probably only 11 or 12 corners across the whole championship where there is the potential for cutting corners in a very obvious way," he added.

"There are solutions that can be adopted to sort those issues out, such as the solution for Turn 1 at Monza, where if you do go off there is a natural penalty.

"It takes you longer to rejoin than if you had used the [primary] circuit – that makes it a lot easier for the stewards, as the penalty is applied on track."

dr002

Posts: 141

...... or a water feature, perhaps a nice little pond at the first corner at Mexico would provide a pleasant natural penalty, it could be named 'Hamilton Shallows'.

  • 2
  • Dec 5 2016 - 06:35

Replies (5)

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  • ringo

    Posts: 3,633

    yep a natural penalty is easier, :) some wall of tyres is good :) or some dirt

    • + 0
    • Dec 4 2016 - 19:24
    • dr002

      Posts: 141

      ...... or a water feature, perhaps a nice little pond at the first corner at Mexico would provide a pleasant natural penalty, it could be named 'Hamilton Shallows'.

      • + 2
      • Dec 5 2016 - 06:35
    • Hemex

      Posts: 1,381

      Not too shallow please. Hamilton and Verstappen are pretty good driving in the wet, and they might not even notice.

      • + 0
      • Dec 7 2016 - 09:07
  • Wolfgang

    Posts: 313

    like silverstone... Hamilton... Verstappen... Vettel... Alonso...

    All of them had been off track..

    • + 0
    • Dec 5 2016 - 09:03
  • Major Tom

    Posts: 152

    Definitely the way to go - though maynot be a complete solution. Didn't somebody- Hamilton? - have a trip to the stewards after rejoining to early at corner 1 at Monza a couple of years ago?

    • + 0
    • Dec 5 2016 - 18:16

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