Button says removing kerbs is not the answer for F1

The FIA has worked hard on trialling many different solutions over the years to try to discourage drivers from gaining an advantage by running off circuits.

At the Red Bull Ring, the addition of yellow sausage kerbs at the exit of key corners has proved to be controversial, with some drivers unhappy with them while others are adamant that they are a good enough deterrent.

Despite the kerbs having contributed to four suspension failures over the course of the Red Bull Ring weekend, the FIA is clear that they are the best solution, and anyone worried about problems should stay away from them.

Former world champion Button is aware that the run of suspension failures is not normal, but equally says that the FIA is right not to give drivers total free reign.

"It is difficult to know what to do really," said the McLaren driver. "You cannot just get rid of them because where is the limit? We would be driving off into the countryside in every corner. So it is difficult

"Qualifying is always the bigger problem, and in the race you don't want to be running too much kerb anyway as you will be wearing out the floor and what have you to, so the race is not such a problem."

Off track

Button points out that although the kerbs are well off the circuit, drivers do use them as a big reference points when pushing for quick times.

"It is not nice to see a failure of any sort on a racing car, as we take enough risks as it is. We never like to see failures on cars, but this circuit has enough run off area so it is not an issue," he said.

"It is a really tricky one, because they are off the circuit. Especially in qualifying you are pushing to the limit and using them as much as you can.

"You use that kerb as the limitation of the circuit, so instead of the white line being the limit or an angled kerb which we normally have on the side of circuits, we use the yellow sausage kerbs as the limit.

"It does make it tricky as they are in corners that are extremely fast and you are trying to pick your line and exit line and you want to get as close to those kerbs as possible. It is when you make a mistake, run wide and run over them that you have a problem.

"It is unusual to see so many suspension failures. When you watch on TV you are like, 'hang on a second I don't understand how that is happening'. It was on opposite side on the Toro Rosso and with Nico [Rosberg] it didn't look like a big impact."