Russian GP: F1's 'slalom' track limits runoff solution scrapped
Formula 1 has axed its track limits solution at Turn 2 at Sochi after drivers drivers struggled to negotiate the 'slalom' in Friday's Russian Grand Prix practice sessions
The FIA originally moved to mitigate any potential advantage gained as a result of running off-track under braking for the right-hander by dictating that cars should weave left-right-left around a series of blocks before rejoining for the start of the sweeping Turn 3 left-hander.
But the section proved difficult to navigate on Friday, and some drivers had to skip parts of the slalom while running through it.
Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo admitted it "seemed too complicated", even though he stressed he was not "that against it".
F1 race director Michael Masi's revised notes for Saturday revealed the polystyrene blocks in the Turn 2 runoff area had been adjusted (as pictured above), and new guidelines for navigating them mean the original solution has in effect been scrapped.
"Any driver who fails to negotiate Turn 2 by using the track, and who passes completely to the left of the first orange kerb element prior to the apex, must rejoin the track by driving to the left of the white blocks and remaining to the left of the orange block in the run off," Masi's revised notes stated.
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