The Austrian GP was [DELETED FOR TRACK LIMITS] | Formula 1 British Grand Prix Preview | Grid Walk July 6, 2023

The Austrian Grand Prix was definitely [DELETED FOR VIOLATING TRACK LIMITS]. On episode 24 of Grid Walk, Briana and Nicole go through the events that led to a podium for Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Sergio Perez.

Several drivers have purchased a ticket to Frustration Station after the Austrian Grand Prix! Scuderia Ferrari did not make it easy for driver Carlos Sainz who was clearly upset on the team radio. The other Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc also had a moment of distress on the radio when the team was trying to convince him of a 3 stop race! If Sergio Perez wants to convince Oracle Red Bull Racing that he deserves his seat he better not let MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s driver Nico Hülkenberg pass him. Meanwhile at Scuderia Alpha Tauri, Yuki Tsunoda would probably love to be driving any other car on the F1 grid. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton sounded like they couldn’t wait for the Austrian Grand Prix to be over.

After all of the track limits penalties at the Austrian Grand Prix, it is time for the return of Into The Wild. Briana does a deep dive into what the “zebras” of other motorsports do for their regulation practices. What is Video Assistant Referee? Why are walls, sausage curbs, gravel traps, grass not the answer? How can the Snickometer in cricket and Hawk-Eye in tennis help F1 stewards?

It’s Sir Lewis Hamilton Week also known as the British Grand Prix! Silverstone is basically a guarantee for some great racing. Will Lewis Hamilton have a better home race with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team? How will the new Pirelli tires affect the race weekend? Was Mclaren F1 Team’s success at the Austrian Grand Prix showing that their upgrades worked or was it just Lando Norris’s driving?

SPOILER ALERT: Either Briana or Nicole picked a drive besides Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen to finish P1 at Silverstone.

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Track Limits Tech Articles Mentioned:

VAR in F1 Motorsport

The Race

Other -Lucas De Grassi

00:00 It is Sir Lewis Hamilton Week!

02:20 Welcome to The Austrian GP Frustration Station

04:26 Carlos Sainz & Ferrari

08:15 Charles Leclerc

09:49 Lance Stroll

10:46 Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes

12:51 Welcome to the Coping Corner

16:26 Yuki Tsunoda

18:12 Checo Perez

19:28 Formula 1 Fans!

24:06 Into the Wild: The FIA have a Track Limits Problem

33:08 Research Into Options to Help Stewarding

36:38 Moto GP

39:20 Cricket

40:46 Tennis

42:10 Hockey and Soccer (Futbol)

42:34 NFL

43:05 NASCAR

43:59 Formula E

49:35 British Grand Prix Preview

54:36 F1 British GP Predictions

01:01:19 F1 Academy Race Predictions

01:04:23 Yellow Sector Notes: One Story From Every Team

**Frustration Station:**

* **Carlos Sainz:** His struggles with Ferrari's strategy calls, leading to a missed podium opportunity.
* **Charles Leclerc:** His frustration with Ferrari's three-stop strategy proposal, showcasing his growth in asserting his opinions.
* **Lance Stroll:** Aston Martin's puzzling decision to pit him three times in a race where minimizing pit stops was crucial.
* **Lewis Hamilton:** His struggles with Mercedes' car setup, leading to a disappointing race and growing concerns about the team's competitiveness.
* **Yuki Tsunoda:** His ongoing struggles with the AlphaTauri car, despite his impressive performances in previous races.
* **Sergio Perez:** His underwhelming performance, falling behind the Ferrari that intended to do a three-stop strategy and being overtaken by Nico Hulkenberg in a Haas during the sprint race.

**Into the Wild: Track Limit Solutions:**

* **Safety:** Any solution must prioritize safety and avoid increasing the risk of DNFs.
* **Consistency:** The FIA needs to apply the rules correctly and consistently during races, rather than relying on drivers to "do better."
* **Exploitation:** Drivers and teams will always seek advantages, so the onus is on the FIA to effectively regulate and control the races.

**Current Situation and Issues:**

* **Manual Review:** The FIA's current system relies on race control personnel manually reviewing photo and video feeds to determine track limit violations.
* **Speed and Accuracy:** The manual review process is slow and subjective, leading to delays and potential inaccuracies in decision-making.
* **Volume of Data:** The sheer number of data points that need to be reviewed (hundreds of thousands) makes it challenging for the race control team to effectively monitor all aspects of the race.

**FIA's Video Assistant Referee (VAR):**

* **Misinterpretation:** The FIA's implementation of VAR is not a true video assistant referee system, as it lacks the decision-making authority of a traditional VAR in other sports.
* **Limited Functionality:** The FIA's VAR, known as the Remote Operations Center (ROC), serves as a supporting resource without the power to directly influence stewarding or race control decisions.

**Potential Solutions:**

* **Automated Systems:** Utilizing AI and computer algorithms to assist in track limit monitoring, reducing the reliance on manual reviews and increasing the speed and accuracy of decision-making.
* **Real-Time Feedback:** Providing real-time feedback to drivers during the race, alerting them to potential track limit violations and encouraging compliance.
* **Clearer Guidelines:** Establishing clearer and more objective track limit guidelines to reduce ambiguity and ensure consistent application of the rules.
* **Increased Penalties:** Implementing stricter penalties for repeated track limit violations to deter drivers from pushing the boundaries.
* **Collaboration with Other Sports:** Learning from other sports that have successfully implemented track limit monitoring systems, such as MotoGP and IndyCar.

**Track Limits:**

* The current system for monitoring track limits is inadequate, leading to inconsistent and controversial rulings.
* The FIA has been criticized for its handling of track limits, with many calling for a more transparent and objective approach.
* Several potential solutions exist, including the use of pressure tubes, Hawkeye Innovations technology, and lasers.

**Technology:**

* The podcast explores various technological solutions that could be implemented to improve track limits monitoring.
* Pressure tubes, which detect when a car goes off-track, are used in MotoGP and could be adapted for Formula One.
* Hawkeye Innovations technology, which uses multiple cameras to create a virtual representation of the track, could also be used to monitor track limits.
* Lasers, which can detect the difference in paint between the track and the runoff area, offer a cost-effective and accurate solution.

**Silverstone Predictions:**

* The British Grand Prix is set to take place at Silverstone, a track that is known for its high-speed corners and challenging layout.
* Mercedes is expected to perform well at Silverstone, as the track suits their car's characteristics.
* Ferrari and Aston Martin are also bringing new tire compounds to the race, which could give them an advantage.
* McLaren's recent upgrade has shown promise, but it remains to be seen if it will be effective at Silverstone.

**Hopium:**

* The podcast concludes with a discussion of the upcoming British Grand Prix and predictions for the race.
* The hosts express their hope that Lewis Hamilton will win his home race, although they acknowledge that Max Verstappen is the favorite.

**Additional Points:**

* The podcast highlights the importance of finding a solution to the track limits issue, as it has become a major source of controversy and frustration in Formula One.
* The hosts emphasize the need for the FIA to take a more proactive approach to addressing the problem and implementing a fair and consistent system for monitoring track limits.
* The discussion of technological solutions provides a glimpse into the future of Formula One and the potential for technology to improve the sport.
* The podcast's predictions for the British Grand Prix add an element of excitement and anticipation to the upcoming race.

## F1 Predictions

- Briana and Nicole both predict that McLaren will score the most points among the bottom-ranked teams.
- They also agree that Esteban Ocon will finish in the top 10.

## F1 Academy Predictions

- Briana selects Hamda Al Qubaisi, Marta Garcia, and Lena Buhler as her top three picks.
- Nicole chooses Hamda Al Qubaisi, Marta Garcia, and Carrie Schreiner.

## Yellow Sector Notes

- The hosts discuss various news and updates from the Formula One paddock.
- They talk about Max Verstappen and Christian Horner's concerns about the 2026 regulations, Carlos Sainz's criticism of Ferrari's strategy calls, and Lewis Hamilton's special British GP hat.
- They also discuss Esteban Ocon's tribute to Anthoine Hubert, Gunther Steiner's continued criticism of the FIA, and Audi's announcement of its first development driver.

## Conclusion

- The hosts wrap up the podcast by discussing McLaren's special chrome livery for the British GP and Williams' special livery to honor their 800th Grand Prix entry.
- They also encourage listeners to follow and interact with the podcast on social media.