The New Year brings new penalties, or rather old ones, but it becomes easier to lift them. The Race Direction has decided to take even more uncompromising action against those drivers who go beyond the track limits in 2021. While last year you had to go out of bounds with both wheels to get a lap abort (in practice and qualifying) or a penalty (the long lap penalty, in the race), from this season on it is enough to only put one outside the box – the white one Line to get a yellow card.
To make sure that no one goes astray, Sensors were sunk into the asphalt on all routes (an experiment started a year ago), not in every curve, but only where you can see a clear advantage after leaving the route. Dedicated video cameras were also placed.
When and how are drivers penalized? In practice and qualifying, the lap is interrupted when the limits of the track are exceeded, while in the race the situation is a little more complicated. Drivers receive a warning after three violations and after five they must take a long lap penalty. However, the violation will only be counted if there is a clear advantage, so it does not count in the event of a mistake or if you are deported by another driver. However, if the last lap violation affects the bottom line of the race (clearly brings an advantage), a rider may be penalized in terms of time or position.