The 20 F1 drivers, the FIA and the judging panel held a “productive” meeting on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix to discuss the sport’s overtaking rules.
The discussion comes a month after a heated battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the United States and Mexico City GPs, which involved a controversial incident.
Norris was given a five-second time penalty after the Red Bull driver overtook Verstappen and went off the track in Austin. The Red Bull driver was the first to reach the apex of the corner. However, Norris and the other drivers felt that Verstappen had pushed his rivals off the track.
A week later in Mexico, Verstappen was given two 10-second time penalties for his actions in a wheel-to-wheel battle with Norris.
Verstappen, who clinched his fourth consecutive F1 title in Las Vegas, has said publicly that he is racing within the regulations.
“Certainly, I think certain things still need a little more discussion,” Verstappen said.
“But I think it has more to do with the course layout. There are a lot of run-offs in places and that causes a lot of problems. That’s something we have to work on in the future. That’s the main problem. is”
“Gravel makes it impossible to do things that are a little more risky than normal.”
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Lando Norris complained on team radio that Verstappen pushed him wide on the opening lap of the American Grand Prix.
Grand Prix Drivers Association director George Russell is one of a number of drivers penalized in Austin for allegedly forcing another driver off the track while overtaking.
Mercedes drivers have been vocal about improving consistency in the sport and are hoping for clearer rules in 2025.
“It was a productive meeting. I don’t think much needs to change,” he said. sky sports f1.
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A 360-degree view of Verstappen’s overtake of Norris at the US Grand Prix, where Norris received a 5-second penalty
“The strange wording that needed to be removed, such as the need to leave a wide gap from the apex to the exit when passing on the inside, is why we received the penalty in Austin.
“The guidelines didn’t necessarily say anything about what Max would do if he dropped a dive bomb and went off course. It was effectively out of control.
“Everyone agrees on these things. It’s not like we have to flip everything and rewrite the entire rulebook. It’s just the odd things that have to change. That was positive.”
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Listen to the passionate radio messages exchanged during the US Grand Prix after Norris’ controversial overtake of Verstappen.
Russell told written media that what the drivers ultimately wanted was a change to the circuit design to provide a natural deterrent to drivers trying to run wide.
“If I can stay on the circuit [when overtaking on the inside] “You have the right to run your driver wide, as we’ve all done since go-karts,” he said.
“We also came to the conclusion that most of these problems were caused by the circuit. We talked about a lot of the problems in Austin. If the gravel was there, like Turn 4 in Austria, a lot of I don’t think I could even try to overtake.”If you’re a downhill right-hander, going 1-2% over the limit means you’re going into gravel.
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Watch Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc engage in an incredible wheel-to-wheel battle for P2 at the 2022 British Grand Prix.
“We had a great race at Silverstone at Stowe a few years ago with Lewis, Czech and Charles, but in the end they all went off the track because the track allows that.
“So the circuit is the root cause and it’s an interim fix that drivers can agree on until all the circuits are in place.”
Hamilton ‘welcomes’ more conversations in the future
Hamilton is more aware of Verstappen’s aggressiveness than any other driver on the grid, having faced off against the Dutchman in a controversial 2021 season.
The seven-time world champion said after Thursday’s debate, which lasted about an hour, that F1 was now “moving in the right direction”.
“The meeting was really productive. It’s the first time I’ve had a serious discussion with them,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
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Lewis Hamilton says he is extremely proud that his 2021 diversity and inclusion proposal has been adopted by the FIA and all 10 F1 teams.
“We had clear and open discussions with the stewards, who have a very difficult job. Every overtake and every scenario is very different from each other.
“There are no changes to these two races, but we are working through that process for next year and would welcome further discussions with them in the future.”
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Verstappen and Norris clash again this season, with Verstappen forcing Norris off the track multiple times
He later added to written media: [ the stewards’] We’ve been better this year in terms of consistency, but obviously everyone wants to be perfect.
“Until those discussions take place, they won’t fully understand where we sit and whether what we’re fighting for is right or wrong in a particular scenario. It’s good to hear opinions and it’s good that we work on clear guidelines. Even from inside the car, you know what you have.
“For example, there was talk about a caution, but if you only have that one caution and you wait until the last race of the year to take advantage of that caution, that’s not going to work.”
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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner continued to defend Verstappen after his controversial defensive driving against title rival Norris at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Live Qatar GP Schedule on Sky Sports F1
Friday, November 29th
9:55am: F1 Academy Practice 1
11:00: F2 practice
1pm: Qatar GP Practice 1 (Practice starts at 1:30pm)
2:55pm: F1 Academy Practice 2
4:05pm: F2 Qualifying
5pm: Qatar GP Sprint Qualifying (Qualifying starts at 5:30pm)*
Saturday, November 30th
12:10pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
1pm: Qatar GP Sprint Build-up
2pm: Qatar GP Sprint
3:30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
4pm: F2 Sprint Race
5:15pm: Qatar GP qualifying build-up
6pm: Qatar GP Qualifying
8pm: F1 Academy: Race 1
8:45pm: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Sunday, December 1st
10:55am: F1 Academy Race 2
12:15pm: F2 Feature Race
2:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP Build-up
4pm: Qatar Grand Prix
6pm: Checkered flag: Qatar GP reaction
7pm: Ted’s Notes
*The main event will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports
F1’s season-ending triple header continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream the last two F1 races and more with a NOW Sports Month membership – cancel anytime with no contract
