Max Verstappen-Lando Norris clash in Austin: Carlos Sainz offers a unique solution that goes beyond racing guidelines

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has shared a solution for the current debate surrounding ambiguous racing guidelines that has engulfed the F1 world following Max Verstappen and Lando Norris's clash at the F1 US GP. Sainz feels that gravel could solve the problem.

Near the end of the race, the McLaren driver was handed a penalty of 5 seconds for overtaking off the racetrack. The entire episode raised questions on the overtaking guidelines that appear to advantage the drivers on the inside.

Carlos Sainz's solution for this involves gravel, The Spaniard said the issue could be fixed by making changes to the track and adding gravel in the areas where the drivers run off. Talking to the media, including Sportskeeda, Sainz said,

“I think we can keep [talking] about guidelines, but for me until circuits don’t also give us a hand it will be very difficult to erase the problem."

"I think if you put a gravel trap at the exit of Turn 12 [in Austin], Lando doesn’t think about braking so late and releasing the brake and [isn’t] happy to overtake around the outside because he will lose two seconds and get dirt on the tyres by going round the outside. And Max will think twice about braking so late, risking going in the gravel himself."

The race in Austin saw Norris and Verstappen battling for the podium in the final laps of the race. The battle ended when Verstappen, in a bid to defend his position from the Briton, ended up outbraking himself. As a result, he went off the track, leading to Norris also doing the same. When the two drivers re-emerged on track, the positions were inverted with Norris now ahead of Verstappen.

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The Lando Norris-Max Verstappen clash: George Russell shares his take

George Russell also had a somewhat similar opinion to Carlos Sainz on the thorny issue of overtaking. Russell pointed out the impact of gravel in Austria this year, where it drastically reduced the number of track limit warnings that were issued compared to last year. He said,

“If we take Austria last year as an example, you had 300 track limit problems. They put gravel in, and there’s no problems,”

“If you put gravel in on that corner, Max Verstappen doesn’t go off and overtake, and Max doesn’t brake that late and go off as well. I think we need to tackle the root cause.”

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are highly likely to contest every bit of tarmac this weekend in Mexico. It will be interesting to see how the two react to events last weekend, and if there is a change in approach.