F1 should "put up a wall" to avoid track limits debate - Marko
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes the debate over Formula 1 track limits following Max Verstappen’s Bahrain defeat is “completely unnecessary”, saying officials should “put a wall there”.
Verstappen was engaged in a close battle with Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton throughout the F1 season-opener in Bahrain that was settled in the final stages.
Verstappen overtook Hamilton with four laps to go around the outside of Turn 4, but was forced to hand back the position after officials ruled that he made the overtake off-track.
Hamilton was then able to fend Verstappen off in the remaining laps, holding on for victory by 0.7 seconds.
Prior to Verstappen’s move, Hamilton was shown to be regularly running wide at Turn 4 after FIA race director Michael Masi said there would be no policing of track limits.
Hamilton was then forced to change his line after race control informed Mercedes it would be clamping down on track limits at Turn 4 mid-race following a request for clarification by Red Bull.
“We interpreted it too strictly,” Marko told Autosport's sister publication Formel1.de in an exclusive interview.
“Then we asked the race control: 'Hello, the Mercedes is driving continuously over [track limits] and have a time gain of two tenths - can we do that too?’
“And then we got a vague answer: 'Actually, no.' And then there was also the question of the black and white flag for Hamilton, because he was over it more often.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
But Marko accepted that the debate over track limits in Bahrain was now “pointless”, and questioned why there was so much run-off area at the exit of the corner that encouraged drivers to go so far wide.
“It happened, and it's completely unnecessary,” Marko said.
“There’s enough space there. Let's put up a wall and that'll be that. If you crash into the wall, you've damaged your vehicle.
“I don't know why we have so much run-off area on the tracks, and why we don't put a wall in there.”
The wall at Turn 4 lies beyond a run-off area and gravel trap, and brought an end to Verstappen’s Sakhir Grand Prix last December when F1 raced on the outer loop layout following an incident with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.
Verstappen was heard on team radio after the race telling Red Bull that he preferred not to have given back the position and instead accepted a time penalty.
But Marko felt Verstappen would have been given an adjusted penalty to ensure the victory was given back to Hamilton.
Related video
Alpine won't let Alonso and Ocon F1 rivalry get out of hand
Vettel reveals lockdown internship in organic farming
The five factors behind Sainz winning a British GP he’d twice lost
Formula 1 has a newest race winner, in a grand prix the victor appeared to have lost twice, only to charge back to headline a sensational and dramatic British Grand Prix. From a massive start crash to a late sprint finish, here’s how five factors saw Carlos Sainz take his maiden grand prix win
Why there was no case to answer in Aston’s latest F1 copycat saga
The appearance of a revised Aston Martin in Spain caused controversy but PAT SYMONDS explains why the FIA investigation found the Silverstone team had no case to answer
Why it's Red Bull that really leads a three-way fight so far at Silverstone
After a slow start to Friday at Silverstone, all the Formula 1 teams had to effectively cram in a day’s worth of practice into one hour. But there was still plenty to learn and while Ferrari topped the times, a three-way battle is brewing ahead of the British Grand Prix
Why the future is bright for the British GP
It wasn’t so long ago the situation looked bleak at Silverstone with the future of the British Grand Prix under threat. But a transformation has seen it restored to one of the most important races on the Formula 1 calendar, with bigger and better to come
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger