PALMER: We need a re-think on the penalty for passing a driver off track – here’s what I’d do…

Track limits have been a major talking point over the last couple of races, with a litany of penalties being handed out in the Qatar Grand Prix, before Max Verstappen had his pole time deleted in Friday’s qualifying at COTA for crossing the white line at the penultimate corner.
With the line being thickened for Saturday, lap time deletions were no longer a major problem into the weekend in Texas, but track limits were still the cause of a five second penalty and a wider debate, as George Russell passed Oscar Piastri with all four wheels off the road in the Sprint (as you can see in the video above).
Next Up
Related Articles
Watch Round 2 of the 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship
Piastri gets your Driver of the Day vote in Japan
BettingOur Bet Builder picks after Antonelli’s Japan pole
Ride onboard with Antonelli for his superb pole lap in Japan
Watch the Japanese GP highlights as Antonelli takes win
BettingBetting mistakes to avoid during Japanese Grand Prix

