COTA adds kerbs to curb track limit transgressions

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The Circuit of the Americas, the home of the US Grand Prix, will add new kerbs this year to avoid the controversies which marred last year's race in Austin.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting confirmed that the changes would be implemented for this year's event scheduled on October 21.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was at the center of a firestorm in 2017 when he was disqualified from the US GP for breaching the circuit's track limits while overtaking Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for third.

The decision prompted an angry reaction from the fans and the Dutchman's team.

Whiting insisted the FIA's approach to track limit transgressions would not change this season, but hopes the changes will deter drivers from venturing beyond the boundaries.

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"No change of approach, but again, as we did between 2016 and 2017, if you remember Mexico 2016 we had Lewis cutting across the first corner and that didn’t happen [in 2017] because of the measures that we took there," Whiting said.

"I think everywhere that we go now, we really are getting much closer to eliminating everything.

"COTA for example, needless to say there will be some low kerbs in the area where Max went off and they’ll be a couple of those bumpy kerbs like we have on the exit of the last corner on the exit of the first corner.

"But you are learning all the time. It’s a bit like squeezing a balloon, if you squeeze it at this end, a bit pops up there, if you squeeze there a bit pops out somewhere else.

"That’s what’s happening but I think we are very close to being at a point where we are not concerned about a driver gaining time by going off."

"We had a couple of issues in Abu Dhabi where Nico Hulkenberg went off and it was quite clear he gained an advantage, but he wouldn’t give the place back.

"That was expeditious to stay in front and take a five-second penalty, that was the norm. But that’s another thing we need to address."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.