The FIA is set to review racing guidelines following discussion in the Formula 1 drivers’ briefing at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Talks were held on Friday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez between the drivers and the FIA with Lando Norris’ penalty at the United States GP a key talking point.
McLaren, already dissatisfied that Norris was punished for running past Max Verstappen at Turn 12 on Lap 52 at the Circuit of the Americas has already had a right of review rejected over the incident.
The majority of the drivers argued to the FIA that a loophole exists in the racing guidelines.
This was exploited by Verstappen, who under pressure from Norris dove to the apex of Turn 12 with little chance of making the corner.
The guidelines as they stand protected him in this instance, and he went unpunished despite going off track with Norris in the clash.
The likes of Lewis Hamilton have claimed the guidelines as they stand have helped Verstappen “get away” with running drivers off course.
“You shouldn’t be able to come off the brakes and run more speed in and go off the track and still hold your place,” Hamilton added.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly added: “There’s one rule which needs to be changed. It’s that whoever has got their front axle first at the apex has got the priority.”
In addition, George Russell hoped for a “common sense” approach with permanent F1 stewards.
“I think we’d probably all want to see the same stewards all year long so that the drivers and the stewards can all be on the same page and that we can apply common sense when needed rather than having to follow the letter of the law,” he said after the United States GP.
After a “lively drivers’ meeting” according to Sky Sports F1‘s Craig Slater, it was agreed that rules of engagement “have to be improved.”
Moreover, “the FIA admitted it would draft some updated wordings to racing guidelines and send that back to the drivers for review.”
F1 drivers appreciate FIA stewards’ work
Alex Wurz, Chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association is happy with the outcome from Friday’s briefing and hopes to see improvements to the racing guidelines in 2025.
“We know and appreciate the stewards’ work,” he said (via Sky Sports F1).
“We know that they have a difficult role and situation [and] very much appreciate that we have a good dialogue to first make decisions more consistent, which definitely is the case, but we now collectively see that there is some more room for improvement.
“No wants over-regulation, and we want to see good racing, and the sentiment is, that with a collective push, we will improve the guidelines for next season.”
It’s worth noting amid these discussions that Verstappen has been striving to compete within the rules as they’re currently laid out.
“I don’t make the rules,” he said on Thursday. “I just follow the rules as much as I can. I just implement the rules and play with them.”
According to reports, the Dutchman will adapt his driving in tandem with rules of engagement if they change.
READ MORE – FIA dismiss McLaren right of review over Lando Norris F1 US GP penalty
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