Wittich explains two-pronged attack on track limits for Austrian GP

FIA race director Niels Wittichha explained the governing body's two-pronged attack on track limit abuse for this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix as it aims to curb the staggering number of violations witnessed last year.

A whopping 1200 potential breaches were recorded at the Red Bull Ring in 2023, prompting the FIA to implement stricter measures.

For one, drivers will now face a more natural deterrent: a newly installed 2.5-meter wide gravel trap at Turns 9 and 10. This eliminates the previous reliance solely on penalties and provides a real consequence for exceeding track limits.

Furthermore, the FIA is introducing AI software to assist with monitoring and potentially penalizing transgressions.

The technology can help ensure consistency and fairness in applying track limit rules across the race and the FIA maintain a clean and competitive race free from blatant disregard for the boundaries.

And the combination of the new gravel traps and AI software represents a significant step towards achieving that goal.

• Read also: Gravel traps to reduce track limit issues at Spielberg

“[Drivers] will know where the limit is,” explained Wittich. “That’s what they want and what they have asked for.

“They will get feedback, they will feel it when they get close to the gravel, and if they do dip a wheel onto the gravel it will penalise them because the car will be slower.

“It’s a natural deterrent and that has been the number one request from the drivers.

“Shanghai is the most recent area where we did that [in Turns 10, 12 and 17] and the feedback from the drivers was very positive.”

A semi-automated AI system, trialed successfully since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, will be back in action this weekend in Austria.

This system will work hand-in-hand with the FIA's Remote Operations Centre to pinpoint track limit violations throughout the Austrian Grand Prix.

To further enhance the AI's accuracy, a key adjustment has been made. Previously, the system relied solely on the white line that often blends with the white kerbs.

To improve clarity, a new blue line has been introduced alongside the white line, providing a more distinct visual cue for the AI system to identify track limit transgressions.

This additional blue line will help ensure consistent and precise detection of violations throughout the race weekend.

“What you’ll see is that white line on the kerb has moved and now there a light blue line behind just to make it easy for the marshals, for the guys at the Remote Operations Centre (ROC) and for us in Race Control to identify when a driver’s over the limit, because then you have the white line, the light blue line, black tyre – there a clear visual difference,” said Wittich.

“We had the same blue lines in Barcelona, in Turns 5, 9, 12 and 13. As I said, the idea is to make it easy to identify if a tyre is off – a straight yes or no. The light blue line will help us just to differentiate between a driver being off or not.”

Needless to say, the effectiveness of the Austrian Grand Prix's gravel traps will be closely monitored.

Positive results could pave the way for their implementation at other circuits on the 2024 Formula 1 calendar.

Wittich specifically mentioned the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, as a potential candidate for this natural deterrent if this weekend’s event proves successful.

“For example, In Austin, at the exit of Turn 19 there’s a very wide run-off and at the exit of 12 there’s a very wide asphalt run-off,” he said.

“We look at every circuit to see where improvements can be made.”

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