Formula 1 Race Director Charlie Whiting has outlined tightened regulations over corner cutting at the Mexican Grand Prix, in the wake of incidents during last year’s race.
Lewis Hamilton locked up and ran wide at the start, cutting through the grass and bypassing Turn 2, but retained the lead, after he was judged not to have gained an advantage, having backed off.
During the closing laps, Max Verstappen committed a similar offense but was penalised, after stewards deemed that he had gained an advantage over the pursuing Sebastian Vettel.
In order to avoid a repeat, orange speed bumps and bollards have been installed at the complex, with the rules outlined by Whiting on Thursday.
“For safety reasons, any driver who either passes to the left of or runs over the orange kerb sections on the driver’s left between Turns 1 and 2, or who passes to the left of the bollard on the apex of Turn 2, must re-join the track by driving around the end of the orange kerb sections on the driver’s left between Turns 2 and 3,” read Whiting’s pre-event notes.
Similar instructions have also been outlined to drivers in the event that they run wide at Turns 4, 8 or 11.
“If a driver overshoots the corner at Turn 4 there is a small road to the left of the asphalt area which leads back on to the track before Turn 6, please ensure that your drivers use this when necessary," read Whiting's notes.
“For safety reasons, any driver whose car passes completely behind the kerb on the apex of Turn 8 must re-join the track by keeping wholly to the right of the orange kerb parallel to the track on the exit of the corner.
“For safety reasons, any driver whose car passes completely behind the kerb on the apex of Turn 11 must re-join the track by keeping wholly to the left of the orange kerb parallel to the track on the exit of the corner.”
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