- 86,202
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
They don't.
The general regulation is that, unless stated otherwise (this is what "for the avoidance of doubt" means), the white line defines the track limits. However it's pretty commonly stated otherwise.
In all cases at all races it's the Race Director who, in conjunction with the stewards, defines track limits. These are discussed on a corner-by-corner basis; at some races there'll be corners you can fully cut the white line and use the kerbing, or run wide on exit over the white line and use kerbing or runoff... and some you cannot.
This information is relayed to the drivers in the briefing before a wheel is even turned on the circuit. The drivers all know what track limits are at each corner, and at that point it's their problem if they don't abide by them. Clearly there's a heavy emphasis on the white lines at pretty much all the corners at this race, but the drivers will have known this on Thursday before the track walk.
Perez ran wide and - although the stewards insanely chose to only investigate it after qualifying despite deleting everyone else's times almost immediately (including one from his team-mate) - only has himself to blame for the subsequent penalty.
Same with Norris who failed, in FIFTEEN MINUTES, to set a representative lap time in Q2 due to exceeding track limits. That's extraordinarily bad from both driver and team. And Vettel, who ended up last in Q1 (although he wouldn't have made it out anyway).
