The FIA has overseen quite a few modifications to trace limits on the Pink Bull Ring to try to keep away from a repeat of the post-race penalties that had been required finally 12 months’s Austrian Grand Prix.
In 2023, eight drivers had been handed a complete of 12 penalties lengthy after the race had completed, with a last race outcome not being delivered till some 5 hours after the provisional race classification had been revealed. That was as a result of there being over 1200 situations of potential monitor limits infringements that wanted to be checked out by race management; the frequency being too fast and the method taking too lengthy for it to maintain up through the race itself.
On the time, the FIA instructed the addition of gravel traps could be a significant step ahead however it’s right down to the circuits themselves to make such a change, and so they produce other issues. Following final 12 months’s race, although, the Pink Bull Ring has now put in 2.5-meter extensive gravel traps on the surface of Flip 9 and Flip 10, the ultimate two corners.
On prime of this, the surface of Flip 4 has had its exit curb diminished in width, bringing the gravel entice nearer to the monitor edge and making certain a bonus can’t be gained by crossing the white line with all 4 tires.
Probably the most important distinction, although, is the introduction of AI know-how to extend the pace of reporting incidents. A blue line has been painted between the white line that denotes the monitor edge and the exit curb at a number of corners, permitting the automated know-how to extra simply determine when a automobile has clearly left the monitor. All 4 wheels throughout the white line will result in blue being seen, and these incidents will then be immediately saved as clips and despatched to race management to evaluate, quickly enhancing the period of time it takes to make a judgement.
The know-how has been studying at different circuits all through this season, and the blue strains had been seen on the exit of quite a few corners finally weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Race management may also have assist from 5 personnel within the FIA’s Distant Operations Middle (ROC) in Geneva.
The know-how will probably be put to the check in 4 aggressive periods this weekend because it’s a Dash occasion in Austria, with only one follow session earlier than Dash qualifying on Friday afternoon.
