F1 teams 'two steps behind' on track limit feedback

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has been self-critical after losing a points finish at the Qatar Grand Prix because of track limit penalties, despite suggesting teams are "two steps behind" when relaying breaches to the drivers.

The Frenchman picked up two separate five-second time penalties for exceeding track limits during the race at the Lusail International Circuit, where he crossed the line in 10th for what should have been a double-points finish for the team with Esteban Ocon seventh.

But Gasly was demoted to 12th place once the sanctions were applied, with Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez and Alexander Albon also being penalised for the same infringement.

Stroll was highly critical of the stewards for handing out the punishments, believing drivers should have been granted leeway owing to the extreme conditions, but Gasly had no such complaints.

Gasly firm over track limits

"It wasn't a good [race], I [made] too many mistakes with the track limits, and it cost me [10] seconds," Gasly told media including RacingNews365.

"I can only be disappointed with myself because you're talking about a few centimetres - which is nothing - but I paid a big price for it and missed out on the points. I've got to learn from it.

"It was a story the whole race and I don't have any excuses because it is the same for everyone, and at the end of the day, I [did it] too many [times].

"I don't know how many track limit [violations] there were in the race, but you are always like two steps behind [when being informed of violations]."

Gasly's team-mate Ocon described being physically sick in his helmet during the race such were the conditions drivers were presented with in Qatar, but the Frenchman felt he was ready for the challenge.

"It was the toughest race of the year, it was very hard and very physically challenging, but I knew it would be like that," he explained.

"I know I am training really hard and inside the paddock, I am one of the [drivers] in the best physical condition, so I usually embrace these conditions.

"It was challenging for everyone, but I just didn't do a good enough job and I need to learn from these tracks."