Silverstone F1 track limits debate 'really stupid' and 'rubbish'

Palmer was one of six drivers to have a time taken away during qualifying for exceeding track limits, following a declaration from the FIA that it would impose 'zero tolerance' on cars going off the circuit at Copse, Stowe and Club corners.

While Palmer accepted having his time deleted, he feels officials were inconsistent in applying penalties through the session.

"I haven't seen everything but it seems like there were some [incidents] not policed properly," said Palmer on Saturday evening at Silverstone.

"It's rubbish for everyone. Us drivers want to push to the maximum and we'll use everything we can.

"But it's really stupid when some people can seemingly go four wheels off and get away with it and some people get their times deleted.

"It's rubbish for the fans because Lewis Hamilton is on pole one minute but then his time is deleted - fortunately he got pole after that anyway.

"This circuit is great to drive but it's a real problem here - it's too easy to go off and gain time."

Palmer is predicting "the same mess" in the race, and more discussions about track limits at the next grand prix in Hungary.

"We had zero tolerance in qualifying, the race is more unknown," he said.

"I'm sure they are looking at qualifying and how they can police it because it's going to be so difficult.

"They are going to have to make a clear-cut rule, but they've got to police it for 52 laps with 22 cars.

"On Friday we had a really long meeting, and I'm sure when we get to Hungary there will be a big discussion again to see what can be improved."

Daniil Kvyat backed this weekend's track limits approach, after being a heavy critic of the aggressive kerbs that caused him to crash in Austria last weekend.

"In Austria it was a joke," he said. "It's still a bit strange here, but I will be supporting zero tolerance.

"That's how it should be in Formula 1, as drivers we should know our limits.

"There has to be something in between [drivers abusing track limits or placing aggressive kerbs at circuits], like zero tolerance we have here."

Nico Hulkenberg, who had his best time deleted in Q3, agreed with Kvyat.

"I have no problems with it - my responsibility," he said.

"We discussed it in the drivers' meeting and everyone more or less agreed that zero tolerance should be applied, so fair enough.

"It was very marginal with me at Copse, I was aware it was close but I was hoping they didn't see it!"