As Max Verstappen once again falls foul of the track limits regulations, Helmut Marko says something has to change, describing the rules as "stupid".

In the final moments of the race, Max Verstappen, having seen Valtteri Bottas make a late 'free' stop for fresh rubber in a bid to grab fastest lap, also opted to pit, aware that the extra point could come in handy later in the year.

While Bottas posted the fastest lap on the penultimate lap of the race, Verstappen went even quicker next time around and thereby grabbed the point.

Moments later however, the time was deleted, as the Red Bull driver was adjudged to have exceeded the limits at Turn 14. Consequently the honour - and point - for fastest lap went to Bottas and Mercedes.

Marko didn't take it well. After all, the previous day exceeding the track limits had cost his driver a certain pole position, while in Bahrain, having passed Lewis Hamilton for the lead, Verstappen had to hand the position back after being adjudged as going wide.

"Now we've lost the victory, fastest lap, and pole position," Marko told Sky Sports Germany after the race.

"All good things come in threes," he continued, "I just hope that's the end of it.

"Something has to change," he said of the way in which track limits are currently being delay with. "Either you make a boundary with kerbs or you make gravel or something, so, if you go out there's an automatic penalty."

The Austrian also pointed to the seeming inconsistency of the rules.

"Norris overtook Perez, went over with all four wheels, and there were no consequences," he said. "So it's not consistent; that's not racing when you juggle the rules like that."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Editor, 07/05/2021 7:56

"@ The stogie

With the amount of virtue signalling we are seeing in the sport these days, how long before exceeding the track limits becomes a hate crime.

Just saying"

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2. Posted by The stogie, 06/05/2021 23:42

"I couldn't agree more with Marko. The stewards have switched the top motorsports series in the world into club racing. They are so preoccupied with catching track limit violations that they are missing other transgressions. If it's paved let 'em race on it. AND more tickets will be sold!!"

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 04/05/2021 11:33

"Red Bull are becoming very whiney about this. Marco claims Track Limits "cost" them victories & fastest laps, but in fact it was their failure to adhere to the Rules. Verstappen's claim that he didn't think they were monitoring where he exceeded the limit shows that he & the Team need to read the Notes more carefully in future.... "

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4. Posted by Wokingchap, 04/05/2021 9:08

"I agree with the comments below but it's the inconsistency of the stewards decisions that also need better managing."

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5. Posted by JamesD, 03/05/2021 16:44

"Marko throws his toys out of the pram again ! The clue is in the name sir - track limits; exceed them and you get a penalty of some sort.

These are supposed to be the best drivers in the world so should be able to place their car ably to stay within track limits.

Lots of other sports have lanes or limits within lines that must be adhered to so why shouldn't there be track limits for F1 drivers ?!?!"

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6. Posted by alistairmx, 03/05/2021 15:27

"Typical Marko, he should tell his driver to stay on the track."

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Marko hits out at "stupid" track limits

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