George Russell reckons it’s time the FIA has full-time employed, skilled race stewards to enhance consistency and assist drivers interpret the rules.
It comes after explosive races on the US GP in Austin and particularly the Mexican Grand Prix, the place Max Verstappen was issued with two 10-second time penalties.
Verstappen was penalised for forcing title rival Lando Norris huge at Flip 4 and leaving the monitor and gaining a bonus at Flip 7 in Mexico Metropolis.
The world champion contested each selections whereas, forward of this weekend’s Brazil Grand Prix, Norris stated he felt that “deep down” Verstappen knew the manoeuvre was fallacious.
It has reopened the interpretations of F1’s loosely-worded rulebook and Russell, who’s a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation, says that whereas he doesn’t consider the rulebook wants ripping up, it does now require a secure physique of race officers to enhance the consistency of the penalties being dished out.
Russell stated: “On a private view, not a view of the collective, I do not suppose it [the rulebook] wants ripping up in any respect. It simply wants some effective changes or a small addition. It is all fairly clear.
“The rules have to be in place nevertheless it additionally must be remembered they’re pointers. There’s not a written regulation and it is right down to the stewards to take the very best judgement.
“When issues come right down to interpretation, and when issues are about consistency, you possibly can argue for those who had been to have the identical stewards week in, week out, the consistency might be higher as a result of they’re decoding issues in the identical method and the drivers perceive precisely what they anticipate in a given circumstance.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
“So I do really feel, once more a private view, not one in all on behalf of the drivers, however private view, I do suppose we’re at a degree now on this sport that we do want a full-time skilled steward in the place they earn an actual wage.
“They are not successfully volunteers and I do suppose throughout the pool of stewards we have got now, they’re undoubtedly as much as commonplace. So it isn’t saying something unhealthy concerning the present stewards, it is simply saying I really feel we ought to be having system stewarding per week in, week out.”
The FIA needs to talk to drivers concerning the racing guidelines to offer clearer pointers sooner or later. Nonetheless, Verstappen – who has made a number of references to falling out of affection with F1 – says the collection has turn into over-regulated.
Talking in Sao Paulo forward of the race, he stated: “It is by no means going to be good as a result of even for those who take away guidelines, you then get right into a battle, you then need extra guidelines as a result of it isn’t clear what’s allowed or not.
“Then when you might have too many guidelines, you need much less guidelines. It simply retains on going left and proper on a regular basis. Do I feel it is over-regulated? Most likely sure. I imply, generally, the rulebook is simply getting larger and greater each single yr, I do not suppose that is at all times the precise approach ahead.”
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Russell nevertheless says that together with skilled stewards, the rules do want additional clarification however they solely turn into highlighted when the wording is examined.
He added: “In case you learn the principles, there are strains that say for those who’re driving erratically or harmful, you will be punished and you may argue if a driver outbreaks himself and would not make the nook on the exit that’s erratic since you’re driving off the racetrack.
“So there is a component of interpretation there, for positive it does have to be cleaned up a little bit bit.
“On the finish of the day, each incident is totally different. For positive, now issues are evolving… it is like the security of the vehicles, you want a foul accident to occur earlier than you make this actual progress.
“It is the identical with the driving laws. You want one thing or selections to be incorrect or issues to be pushed past its restrict earlier than you realise change must occur.”
