"Bulls**t" track limits are killing F1 and old-school circuits like Imola - Kvyat

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

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"Bulls**t" track limits are killing F1 and old-school circuits like Imola - Kvyat

Kvyat wants gravel traps to indicate track limits rather than a painted line

Nicolas Quarles van Ufford

Sunday 1 November 2020 10:59 Updated: 11:47

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AlphaTauri driver Daniil Kvyat has slated the ongoing track limits issues in Formula 1 he claims are 'killing' circuits such as "old-school Imola".

The problems surrounding track limits have been rife of late, notably as F1 has visited a number of new tracks, leaving FIA race director Michael Masi to alter them over the course of a race weekend as the initial guidelines are explored.

Across the sole 90-minute practice session ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix there were 60 violations, and despite changes made by the FIA after listening to the drivers' complaints shortly after, a further eight followed during qualifying.

Despite qualifying eighth and not falling victim to a lap time deletion during qualifying, Kvyat was far from happy about the track limits regulations, calling for gravel traps to dictate where the track ends.

"We don’t need these white lines, we just need old-school gravel traps and [so when] you go off, you just go off, without all this 'cross the white line, don’t cross the white line' bulls**t," said the 26-year-old said, recalling a pre-qualifying meeting between drivers and the FIA to discuss track limits.

"It makes me quite upset because it kills a lot of racing, and it just kills such a great track [like Imola] as well, that’s the problem."

Asked whether he had aired his concerns with Masi, Kvyat added: "I mentioned it to him but the track owners, they have to build such run-off areas for other purposes, perhaps. I don’t know why. We know it.

"In Mugello, there was never a problem with track limits, it was gravel traps, as simple as that. I think most of us would agree that this was the best solution.

"Unfortunately, not on every track we can have that so we need to probably look for a better solution. I mentioned it but I didn’t want to get drawn into the discussion before the qualifying. I had more important things to do before qualifying."

Kvyat has revealed he at least had support from other drivers about the issue.

"Everyone agreed turn 15 was very messy," continued Kvyat. "But I think because only two or three drivers had this issue in turn nine, I think no-one was really too strong about turn nine except me but I think if someone will get the lap time deleted it always goes like this with the drivers.

"Someone’s not happy, then everyone will start talking about it. It’s always the same way. But at least we all agreed on turn 15.

"And turn nine, it’s okay, but I still think it’s not good for racing when you just need to stay within some stupid white line."

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