F1 News: Max Verstappen And Charles Leclerc Call For Changes To The Yas Marina Circuit - "Definitely Help Racing"
Championship winner Max Verstappen and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc have suggested changes to the Yas Marina circuit, which could produce better racing if the final corners are banked.
Corners 12 to 16 feature an off-camber design, with the apex of the corner slightly elevated compared to the outside. This configuration has frequently restricted the chances for side-by-side racing, given the well-defined racing line.
Listen To The Latest Driven Mad Podcast Episode
Additionally, off-camber corners are present in Turns 7 and 8, disrupting the continuity between the two DRS zones. Verstappen noted that this configuration poses challenges in gaining traction on the approach to Turn 9.
After beating Leclerc for the pole position, Verstappen said that a few changes to the Yas Marina circuit would make it a much better track to race on. He told the media:
"I of course always have my favourite tracks, but I don't mind coming here.
"It's always very chilled; I guess that also has to do with the end of the year - good temperatures, nice people, and then the track itself.
"I think the only thing I would like to change is just the off-camber corners, I think that doesn't really help the racing.
"More banked corners would help. So around the hotel, they need to bank that instead of off-camber.
"And at Turn 7, that little crest, it always throws you off a little bit and especially when you're behind, you just lose a lot of traction. So, that corner also: just bank it a bit, that would help."
In addition, Leclerc expressed that he enjoys the technical nature of the track but agreed with Verstappen's suggestion to add camber to the corners. He added:
"I like this track actually; especially the last sector is very technical.
"It's also very difficult to get it right in qualifying because it's such fine margins.
"And as Max mentioned, it's very difficult to follow in those off-camber corners.
"But at the same time during qualifying, as soon as you get it wrong by even by five or 10 centimetres, then that has huge consequences.
"I like it in qualifying, but I agree with Max that for the race, I don't think that's great because you struggle a lot to follow in those corners.
"[Banking the corners] will definitely help racing; it's a track where there's already quite a lot of overtaking opportunities, but definitely that will make it even better."
