Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has expressed his concerns over the yellow sausage kerbs which have been placed at various corners around the Red Bull Ring to prevent drivers from track extending.
Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat crashed heavily in qualifying after running over one of the sausage kerbs at Turn 8, resulting in a violent crash into the barrier after the rear suspension of his car failed.
Speaking after securing pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton called for changes to the kerbs.
“For me looking at it… those yellow kerbs look quite dangerous. We’ve now seen a couple of incidences already. I don’t know how many more of those it’s going to take before a car ends up in the wall and perhaps someone gets hurt.
“I’m sure Charlie [Whiting, race director] and the FIA are looking but that’s definitely an area that we can improve. I think the idea’s good ‘cause they don’t want us running wide… but perhaps another solution is going to be needed.”
Kvyat was not the only driver to feel the full brunt of the sausage kerbs. Hamilton’s teammate Nico Rosberg damaged the rear suspension of his car in final practice resulting in a heavy crash on the exit of Turn 3. Similarly, Sergio Perez’s right rear suspension failed as he hit the kerb through Turn 1.
