Verstappen hits out at race officials: 'A bit of a joke'

Max Verstappen was not happy about the track limits regulations during the race weekend in Austria. The Dutchman saw that many drivers had a hard time with it and therefore he doesn't think this is a good thing for the sport, he says in conversation with The Race.

At the start of the race, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were given two cautions, which almost earned them a penalty. Verstappen also had to watch out, as did some of the other drivers on the track.

Verstappen gives race committee homework

The reigning world champion believes that this does not make the sport better, and therefore hopes for a mutual conversation behind the scenes. Verstappen is convinced that they will then quickly find a way to improve compliance with the rules.

Until then, Verstappen hopes race control will be a little more flexible in dealing with the situation. "I think track limits debate this weekend has been a bit of a joke, not only in F1 but in F2, and F3. It's easy to say from the outside, yeah, but you have to just stay within the white lines. It sounds very easy, but it's not because when you go that quick through a corner and some of them are a bit blind, if you have a bit more understeer, tyres are wearing, it's easy to just go over the white line, but do we actually gain time? Maybe yes, maybe not."

He adds: "And yeah, I don't think we should have this value on one mill over that's a penalty or whatever. Then just add a wall or put some gravel back where we… like Turn 6 on the exit. I think that's great because there is gravel, you punish yourself if you go wide."