Russell says 'majority of drivers' want 'immediate' changes to F1 racing rules

After the time of controversy, time for change? This is in any case the desire displayed by the pilots of Formula 1, via the voice of George Russell, in the paddock of Interlagos, in Brazil. Drivers who would like to review the racing rules following the many debates, more or less heated, on the defense of Max Verstappen face Lando Norris, in Austin and then in Mexico. The Dutchman had not been penalized in the United States – unlike the Briton, who had been penalized 5 seconds for having exceeded outside the limits of the track – but he had been sanctioned, twice, in Mexico for having pushed his opponent off the track.

The triple world champion tried to exploit, to the extreme, the "rule" cited by the stewards when they justified Lando Norris' penalty in Texas, namely that of priority in the bend. In Austin, the driver Red Bull was not penalized because, arriving in front at the apex, he had taken priority and Lando Norris had lost this right, while he was in front at the start of braking. In Mexico, Max Verstappen tried twice to use this technique to regain his position, but by going well beyond the limits…

After the manoeuvres and penalties received by the Dutchman last week in Mexico, the drivers have made it clear to the FIA ​​the need for rapid changes in the driving rules, George Russell told the F1 official channel. "We had a discussion last week in Mexico and the majority agreed on what needed to change., said the Briton, also co-director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA). I think the FIA ​​wanted some consistency and that's understandable, but again the majority of drivers felt that if something is not right we should make a change and implement it immediately. In Mexico penalties were given and I think they were the right penalties. Maybe they should have been given in Austin too. But I think everyone pretty much agrees on what the limit is.

Verstappen “ can't contest" Penalties received in Mexico, Russell believes

Many questions have been raised since Austin regarding race direction, including the rotation of different stewards at each Grand Prix. Some call for a form of continuity and regularity in decision-making, with a central figure like Charlie Whiting was in his time, until his death in 2019. Others simply call for drivers to show common sense when it comes to defending or attacking in the race, respecting the limits. For George Russell, Max Verstappen went well beyond these limits and the penalties he received in Mexico are justified.

“He’s a three-time world champion, he knows what he’s doing, there’s no doubt about it. He’s a hard rider, he’s always been aggressive, and I think that’s great. If you go over the limit, you get penalised. If you’re on the limit, you’re doing something great. Last week he went over the limit, he got penalised. The previous times he’s been on the limit and he wasn’t [penalised]. So he knows what he’s doing and I think the penalties last week were correct and he can’t argue with them,” Judge George Russell. Hoping that this subject does not come back, once again, to the forefront this weekend, for the Brazilian Grand Prix...

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