29/07/2016
NEWS STORY
As the FIA's crackdown on drivers who exceed the track limits continues, drivers have once again been warmed that official will adopt a zero tolerance stance.
First in Austria, then in Britain and Hungary we have seen the FIA come down on those who cannot stay on the black stuff, and so it continues in Germany.
Ahead of today's second practice session, the FIA's Race Director, Charlie Whiting, wrote to all the teams following an opening session which saw the sensors at Turn 1 light up like a pinball machine such were the number of times drivers ran wide.
"During P1 many drivers appeared to make little or no effort to stay on the track on the exit of turn 1, in fact, one driver left the track 14 times," wrote Whiting. "Therefore, for P2 and P3 any driver who is judged to have left the track three times at turn 1 will be reported to the stewards for not having made every reasonable effort to use the track.
"However, if we are satisfied that a driver left the track at this point for reasons beyond his control such a crossing will not be counted towards his total in the session."
Though not identified by Whiting, it is widely believed that it was Max Verstappen who had the record number of excursions at Turn 1.
Check out our Friday gallery from Hockenheim, here.