Post-Abu Dhabi 2021 FIA changes still need improving, say F1 drivers

The governing body made significant alterations to the way F1 races are officiated following Max Verstappen’s victory in the 2021 season finale, when the rules regarding the safety car were interpreted in a new way by then race director Michael Masi.

This significantly disadvantaged Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and led to his defeat in the title battle he was seemingly on course to win.

Although the FIA concluded Masi acted in “good faith”, it nevertheless brought in two new race directors to oversee F1 events this year – former DTM race director Niels Wittich and World Endurance Championship race director Eduardo Freitas, who is currently working at the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours.

This was the headline FIA change, but among other implemented measures it also created a virtual officiating room at its Geneva base to assist the on-site race director, as well as requiring team managers to contact race control via an intermediary official during on-track action.

But the alterations have not stopped officiating controversies erupting this season – although none have been on the scale of the saga that blighted the end of 2021 – while Wittich’s focus on banning drivers from wearing jewellery and ensuring they wear compliant fireproof underwear on track has also generated headlines.

The rules debates this year include Carlos Sainz being aggrieved that race control did not step in sooner when it was clear he had beaten Sergio Perez to the pit exit safety car line in Jeddah, Fernando Alonso’s fury at being penalised for cutting a chicane in Miami and both Red Bull cars being cleared for crossing the pit exit line last time out in Monaco, when Yuki Tsunoda’s similar move at the pit entry line in Austria 2021 was sanctioned.

Several drivers also expressed their frustration that a requested Tecpro barrier was not installed at the Miami chicane following Carlos Sainz’s heavy crash there, where Esteban Ocon later cracked a chassis.

This, combined with the…