In the Tall Grass: F1’s new answer to track limits

Over 200 track limit violations were registered during one session on Friday at the United States Grand Prix.

By James Phillips · Motorsport Week

Published: Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 12:00 PM

Key Things to Know

James Phillips argues Formula 1 should install grass and gravel traps to resolve ongoing track limits controversies.
Over 200 track limit violations were recorded during a single Friday session at the United States Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen had his second Q3 qualifying lap deleted at Austin after leaving the white line.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Motorsport Week's James Phillips argues that Formula 1 should reintroduce grass and gravel traps to effectively police track limits instead of relying on white-line penalties. The piece highlights that over 200 track-limit violations were recorded during a single Friday session at the United States Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen had a qualifying lap deleted in Q3.

Phillips contends that modern circuits featuring expansive asphalt run-off areas dilute the spectacle by removing natural physical consequences for driving errors. He suggests that adding natural deterrents, similar to the gravel installed at the Red Bull Ring, provides a superior solution to current regulatory penalties.

Read the full article on Motorsport Week

In the Tall Grass: F1’s new answer to track limits

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