Kimi Antonelli after 207 track infringements: “We have to be incredibly careful”

Formula 1 fans could hardly believe their eyes when this news broke in the summer of 2023: race stewards had to investigate more than 1,200 instances of Formula 1 cars straying beyond the permitted track limits during and after the Austrian Grand Prix.

At 9.30 pm on the evening of 2 July, the full extent of the situation became clear – eight drivers were penalised, including Ferrari ace Carlos Sainz, who was demoted by two places, finishing sixth instead of fourth.

Now, during free practice for the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), it has become apparent that F1 drivers have had their laps disallowed a dozen times for straying too far off the track – 207 times in total!

Why is it so tricky here in Texas in particular? The answer comes from championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

The Italian knows: “Breaching the track limits will be a hot topic in qualifying and probably in the race too. You’re off the track in a flash. I, too, had to try to gauge the limits better in the third practice session – to be as fast as possible, but without ending up off the track.”

Topic of the week

Topic of the week: MotoGP’s new schedule proved highly controversial

In 2027, MotoGP will also enter the 850cc era with a new schedule. It was not so much the changes themselves as the way the decisions were reached that caused a stir. A prime example of: ‘Talking helps’.

Thomas Kuttruf

Read More

TV Program

Tomorrow

Austin: Das Rennen

FIA Formula One World Championship

25.10.2026 - 19:30

“The ups and downs of this circuit make the task more difficult, and on top of that there’s the wind, which can catch you out badly in certain corners. You also have to be incredibly careful in the braking zones – brake a little too hard once and a wheel locks up, and you end up off the track.”