The FIA shares details of the F1 Mexico GP track limits along with changes to the circuit plus the DRS zones and more.
The FIA Race Directors’ note has a lengthy track limits description for the returning F1 Mexico GP, with the stewards to monitor Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 3, Turn 4, Turn 8 and Turn 11, during the course of the weekend. It includes rejoining rule and how to approach.
Here’s what the FIA states in details:
Turns 1, 2, 3 –
a) Any driver who leaves the track on the left-hand side 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 fluorescent yellow kerb sections on the left-hand side between Turns 2 and 3.
Turn 4 – Escape Road –
a) If a driver overshoots the corner at Turn 4 there is a small road to the left of the asphalt run-off area which leads back on to the track prior to Turn 6. Please ensure that your drivers use this when necessary.
Turn 8 –
a) Any driver whose car passes completely behind the red and white kerb on the apex of Turn 8 must re-join the track by keeping wholly to the right of the two bollards parallel to the track on the exit of Turn 8.
Turn 11 Apex –
a) Any driver whose car passes completely behind the red and white kerb on the apex of Turn 11 must re-join the track by keeping to the right of the first polystyrene block arrangement and then wholly to the left of the second polystyrene block parallel to the track on the exit of the corner. See attached updated image 1.
b) A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track and failing to negotiate Turn 11 by using the track, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
Turn 11 Exit –
a) A lap time achieved during any practice session or the race by leaving the track on the exit of Turn 11, will result in that lap time being invalidated by the stewards.
General – Turn 11 Apex and Turn 11 Exit –
a) Each time any car fails to negotiate Turn 11 Apex, or Turn 11 Exit by using the track, teams will be informed via the official messaging system.
b) On the third occasion of a driver failing to negotiate Turn 11 Apex and/or Turn 11 Exit by using the track during the race, he will be shown a black and white flag, any further cutting will then be reported to the stewards. For the avoidance of doubt this means a total of three occasions combined not three at each corner.
c) In all cases detailed in Article 21 above, the driver must only re-join the track when it is safe to do so and without gaining a lasting advantage.
d) The above requirements will not automatically apply to any driver who is judged to have been forced off the track, each such case will be judged individually.
Meanwhile, the changed rule from F1 US GP regarding double waved yellow flag and lap deletion will continue on for Mexico GP. The FIA Race Director and the drivers will have further discussions this weekend regarding the revised regulation.
Continuing on from the notes, the FIA has shared about the changes made to the circuit as well. There has been resurface done between pit exit and Turn 1, while a wall has been realigned around Turn 12 and the Tecpro barrier at Turn 17 has been removed.
- The depression in the track surface on the right-hand side under the overpass bridge located between the Pit Exit and Turn 1 has been resurfaced.
- The right-hand side wall between Point 11.5 and Turn 12 has been realigned closer to the track edge by approximately 2m.
- The barrier on the left-hand side at Turn 17 has been brough closer to the track edge and the Tecpro has been removed.
Moving on to the DRS zones, the detection of the first zone is 70m after Turn 9, with the activation 80m after Turn 11. The detection for the second and third zones is same at the exit of Turn 15, where the activation for second is 323m after Turn 17 and for third is 116m after Turn 3.
In terms of the four FIA stewards, they will be led by Dr. Gerd Ennser, with his team having Richard Norbury, Danny Sullivan and Freddy van Beuren. And finally, the PU elements details until the F1 US GP has also been updated where more took penalties.
Starting with ICE, there are 11 drivers now with four elements taken up, whereas eight are on three, leaving Valtteri Bottas with six against his name. In terms of TC and MGU-H, there are 10 drivers with four elements taken up, with nine having taken up three.
It once again leaves Bottas with the most at five. For MGU-K, there are eight drivers having taken up only two elements where seven are with three and the rest with four. For ES, there are 13 drivers still on with their second element.
Six are on their third, leaving Sergio Perez with four. In terms of CE, 12 are on their second element, with seven on their third and once again it is Perez with four. Here’s the full list: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2021%20Mexican%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20PU%20elements%20used%20per%20driver%20up%20to%20now.pdf
Here’s the FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2021%20Mexican%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Race%20Directors’%20Event%20Notes%20.pdf
Here’s the Q3 financial report