Red Bull urges F1 to get tough on track limits

Both Ricciardo and Horner believe the huge asphalt run-off areas that are now common at circuits have no place in F1 as drivers are no longer punished for making a mistake.

That was evident in Mexico where Lewis Hamilton locked up his Mercedes into Turn 1 on the opening lap, but escaped across the grass at Turn 2.

Late in the race Red Bull's Max Verstappen did likewise when under attack from Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari.

Although Verstappen received a five-second penalty after the race, the fact there was no immediate consequence for Verstappen's error caused a considerable furore, with Vettel furious on the radio in his car over the final laps of the race.

Assessing the ongoing debate over track limits, Ricciardo said: "I'm a fan of gravel traps, and stuff like that, because it is a proper deterrent. Even if you get through the gravel trap, still at some good speed and you maybe don't lose a whole lot of time, you have still got stuff in your radiators or stones on your tyres, so there is more of a penalty.

"The start of the race is a crucial moment, and a mistake like that with so many cars around, you should pay more of a price."

This season the FIA has imposed track limits and applied penalties at some circuits, including the Red Bull Ring, but it has opted against doing so at other tracks like Austin where drivers were consistently running off track.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has suggested the building of walls at some corners, which Horner contends is an idea at "one end of the spectrum".

Agreeing with Ricciardo, Horner said: "There is an argument for a gravel trap because then if you end up in the gravel you either lose an enormous amount of time, or you are out of the race.

"It's something that should be looked at for corners such as Turn 1 [in Mexico] to see if gravel is a better deterrent than large Tarmac run-off areas.

"It remains too open to interpretation because why was Max's move any different to Lewis at the chicane in Monte Carlo, or Lewis in Mexico?

"You are leaving it constantly up to the stewards' interpretation on individual events, but if there is a gravel trap there then you pay the price. It's simple."