Fight against F1 track limits: how FIA will monitor them with Artificial Intelligence

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In recent years, the issue of track limits has played an increasingly central role in the FIA’s work, not only to ensure consistency within the championship but also to address the inevitable controversies that arose at certain F1 events.

Previously, track limits were monitored only at specific points on certain circuits, namely those where the race director believed there could be an advantage in going beyond the white line. However, this approach was based on FIA simulations and the race director's judgment, leading to clear inconsistencies throughout the season.

To ensure consistency in decisions, the Federation has, for some time now, adopted a “zero tolerance” policy on track limits, so that they are judged in the same manner everywhere, with the aim of enhancing safety.

However, while this policy has significantly improved decision-making consistency throughout the championship, it does not mean that there were no weaknesses, especially regarding how limits were monitored.

The Issue of On-Track Stewards
Stewards have various methods to monitor track limits, including F1's broadcast feed, closed-circuit cameras at the circuits, GPS, and marshals. But this is not always enough. A prime example is Austria in 2023 when the FIA had to review over 1,200 possible infractions.

This process took a long time to complete after the checkered flag, inevitably leading to controversy over the impact and manner of penalty assignments. In that case, the FIA was overwhelmed by the volume of potential infractions, straining both the marshals and the stewards responsible for making decisions.

One of the issues was that track limits at Turn 9 were being monitored by a marshal positioned at Turn 10. Although they were aligned for a better view of Turn 9, the distance from the track was still considerable. Additionally, the presence of a red-and-white curb beyond the white line made the marshals‘ job even more difficult.

The FIA recommends having at least two people trackside—one observing events on the circuit and another taking notes and relaying information to race control. However, with over a thousand infractions to assess, managing each incident in real time becomes highly complex. This challenge prompted the FIA to strengthen its remote structure in Geneva to provide greater support.

Natural Deterrents to Reduce Track Limits
Although the governing body had already been working on solutions, what happened in Austria was the final straw, pushing the FIA to implement measures quickly. The first was the reintroduction of a strip of gravel beyond the curb at specific points, providing drivers with a tangible reference to understand where the limit is.

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