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 extensive at Flip 4 and leaving the observe and gaining a bonus at Flip 7 in Mexico Metropolis.
The world champion contested each choices whereas, forward of this weekend’s Brazil Grand Prix, Norris mentioned he felt that “deep down” Verstappen knew the manoeuvre was mistaken.
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 imagine the rulebook wants ripping up, it does now require a steady physique of race officers to enhance the consistency of the penalties being dished out.
Russell mentioned: “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 superb changes or a small addition. It is all fairly clear.
“The rules must be in place nevertheless it additionally must be remembered they’re pointers. There’s not a written regulation and it is all the way down to the stewards to take the very best judgement.
“When issues come all the way 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 shall be higher as a result of they’re decoding issues in the identical method and the drivers perceive precisely what they count on in a given circumstance.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs
“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 inside the pool of stewards we have got now, they’re positively as much as normal. So it isn’t saying something unhealthy in regards to the present stewards, it is simply saying I really feel we needs to be having system stewarding week in, week out.”
The FIA needs to talk to drivers in regards to the racing guidelines to offer clearer pointers sooner or later. Nevertheless, 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 mentioned: “It is by no means going to be good as a result of even for those who take away guidelines, then you definitely get right into a battle, then you definitely need extra guidelines as a result of it isn’t clear what’s allowed or not.
“Then when you have got too many guidelines, you need much less guidelines. It simply retains on going left and proper on a regular basis. Do I believe it is over-regulated? In all probability sure. I imply, basically, the rulebook is barely getting larger and greater each single yr, I do not suppose that is all the time the correct method ahead.”
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 the event you learn the principles, there are traces that say for those who’re driving erratically or harmful, you may 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 certain it does must be cleaned up a little bit bit.
“On the finish of the day, each incident is totally different. For certain, now issues are evolving… it is like the protection of the vehicles, you want a nasty accident to occur earlier than you make this actual progress.
“It is the identical with the driving laws. You want one thing or choices to be incorrect or issues to be pushed past its restrict earlier than you realise change must occur.”
