Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have applauded the FIA for its progress in refining Formula 1’s racing guidelines following a pivotal driver meeting in Qatar.
The gathering, held ahead of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, addressed inconsistencies in stewarding decisions, particularly those from the controversial United States Grand Prix.
Addressing Inconsistencies
The debate over racing guidelines stems from incidents at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. A key flashpoint was Max Verstappen’s unpenalized clash with Lando Norris, which saw both drivers run off track but only Norris receiving a penalty. This inconsistency was compounded by Verstappen’s penalties in Mexico City for forcing Norris off track twice in one lap.
George Russell, serving as a Director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), described the discussions as “productive” and emphasized the need for minor tweaks rather than overhauls.
“The guidelines don’t need massive changes,” Russell said. “I think we just need the odd sentence removed or adjusted. Everybody agrees what happened in Austin should have been penalized. What happened in Mexico was rightly penalized.”
Russell highlighted overtaking rules as a central focus, particularly the responsibility of the overtaking car to stay on track:
“If you are the overtaking car on the inside, rule number one is you have to stay on the circuit. If you do, you are within your right to run the other driver wide.”
Hamilton Echoes Optimism
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton shared his teammate’s positive outlook, praising the FIA for its openness and willingness to engage with the drivers.
“What’s great is just acknowledging the FIA and the stewards taking the time to sit down with us,” Hamilton said. “That’s the best meeting I would say we’ve had in a while.”
Hamilton emphasized the complexity of creating consistent guidelines across F1’s diverse calendar, noting the unique characteristics of each circuit.
“It’s very complex because every circuit has different corners and scenarios. They don’t have an easy job at all.”
The Brit also noted that such discussions help both drivers and stewards work towards clearer, more consistent racing guidelines:
“Until you have those discussions, they don’t fully understand what we’re fighting for or think is right or wrong in certain scenarios. It’s good for them to hear, and it’s good for us to work on real clear guidelines.”
Circuit Design: A Key Factor
Both Hamilton and Russell highlighted circuit design as a major contributor to contentious decisions. Russell pointed out that many overtaking issues could be mitigated by incorporating gravel traps or other deterrents into high-risk corners.
“A lot of overtakes wouldn’t even be attempted if there was gravel there,” Russell remarked.
FIA’s Path Forward
The meeting in Qatar signals a step in the right direction for Formula 1. The drivers’ feedback, combined with the FIA’s willingness to listen, could pave the way for clearer, fairer regulations in 2025 and beyond. As Hamilton noted:
“We’re just working away at it together. From that meeting, we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”