WATCH: Valtteri Bottas expresses his displeasure with Michael Masi on the Mercedes F1 radio

Valtteri Bottas was confused by the changing track limits in Qatar during the second practice session. The Losail Circuit is hosting a Formula 1 race for the first time and race director Michael Masi is constantly checking the track limits.

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During the first training session, the drivers were given free rein. For the FP2, however, a new dictation was issued, the non-observance of which also led to a deleted lap time for Bottas and others.

Formula 1 F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 19, 2021 Valtteri Bottas from Mercedes in action during the REUTERS / Hamad I Mohammed practice

Valtteri Bottas admits confusion

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The Finn set the fastest lap time in the second practice session of 1: 23: 154, which was later canceled because the track limit was exceeded in Turn 7, while we are walking. ”

Bottas set the pace with another lap, this time 0.006 seconds faster than his previously fastest lap. He was followed by AlphaTauri from Pierre Gasly and Red Bull from Max Verstappen. But Bottas didn’t seem particularly happy with the communication gap at the route limits.

“It would have been nice to know that beforehand, Michael,” said the Mercedes driver on the radio to race director Michael Masi.

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“All run-offs are paved, so it’s pretty easy to get going and buy time,” he said, as reported by Motorsport. “Even on some of my fastest laps, I was confused, I didn’t know what was allowed and what wasn’t.”

What are the rules now?

Initially, the road boundaries were only monitored in curves 4, 12, 13, 14 and 16 in accordance with the guidelines. However, after the first training session, track boundaries were recorded at every curve. “The line boundary at the exit of every bend on this route is defined if no part of a car touches the purple-white curb,” says Masi’s revised note.

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The general rule was not communicated well to the drivers, which led to confusion for many and cut lap times. Later that evening, another note from the race director listed turns 2, 7 and 16 as particular problem areas.

Also Read – Qatar Grand Prix FP3 Report: Red Bull Face F1 Rear Wing Coupling When Bottas Steals The Losail Show

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