Formula 1 drivers are set to review the United States Grand Prix battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in Mexico’s driver briefing amid questions over how the FIA’s racing rules are applied.
Verstappen and Norris fought a hard battle for third position in Austin until they both went off at Austin’s Turn 12 with four laps to go. Norris passed his title rival off the track, which netted him a five-second penalty, while Verstappen went unpunished for pushing his colleague off.
According to the racing standards guidelines as they are written, Verstappen was in the right as the defending car and did not have to leave Norris racing room. McLaren launched a right of review petition on Thursday to revisit the case, with Norris arguing that because he was already ahead of Verstappen he was the defending party rather than the Dutchman.
While the stewards appeared to apply the rules as they stand correctly, several leading drivers have taken issue with the practice of drivers being able to launch up the inside with no regard of whether or not they are able to make the corner, as long as they are ahead of their rival at the apex.
“It’s always been a grey area,” said Lewis Hamilton. “They probably need to make some adjustments for sure. Also we do have inconsistencies through rulings depending on which stewards are there. And as a sport, we do need to level up on all areas.
“I experienced it many times with Max. You shouldn’t be able to just launch the car up the inside and then go off and still hold the position.”
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell says he’s interested in learning how the FIA looks at the incident now, and whether their interpretation means Verstappen was totally in the right or was exploiting an unintended loophole in the current guidelines – or “taking the piss” as Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas described it.
“I don’t think you can write a set of regulations that covers every single possible scenario, it is a very fine line,” drivers’ association director Russell said.
“I’m really interested to see if the FIA believe, having reviewed everything again, if Max should have been penalised for what he did or not. In my view, he should have been penalised. Therefore, there isn’t really a loophole. If they say: ‘Based on our regulations, he should not have been penalised’, then he is exploring a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – Formula 1 – Stories…