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 vast at Flip 4 and leaving the monitor 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 improper.
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 consider the rulebook wants ripping up, it does now require a secure 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 assume it [the rulebook] wants ripping up in any respect. It simply wants some advantageous changes or a small addition. It is all fairly clear.
“The rules should be in place nevertheless it additionally must be remembered they’re tips. There’s not a written regulation and it is all the way down to the stewards to take the perfect judgement.
“When issues come all the way down to interpretation, and when issues are about consistency, you possibly can argue if you happen to had been to have the identical stewards week in, week out, the consistency can be higher as a result of they’re deciphering issues in the identical method and the drivers perceive precisely what they anticipate in a given circumstance.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
“So I do really feel, once more a private view, not one in all on behalf of the drivers, however private view, I do assume we’re at some extent 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 assume throughout the pool of stewards we have got now, they’re positively as much as normal. So it is not saying something unhealthy concerning the present stewards, it is simply saying I really feel we ought to be having system stewarding per week in, week out.”
The FIA needs to talk to drivers concerning the racing guidelines to offer clearer tips sooner or later. Nonetheless, Verstappen – who has made a number of references to falling out of affection with F1 – says the sequence has turn into over-regulated.
Talking in Sao Paulo forward of the race, he mentioned: “It is by no means going to be excellent as a result of even if you happen to take away guidelines, then you definitely get right into a battle, then you definitely need extra guidelines as a result of it is not clear what’s allowed or not.
“Then when you may have 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? Most likely sure. I imply, basically, the rulebook is simply getting larger and greater each single 12 months, I do not assume that is at all times the appropriate 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: “When you learn the foundations, there are traces that say if you happen to’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 should be cleaned up just a little bit.
“On the finish of the day, each incident is completely different. For certain, now issues are evolving… it is like the security of the vehicles, you want a foul accident to occur earlier than you make this actual progress.
“It is the identical with the driving rules. You want one thing or choices to be incorrect or issues to be pushed past its restrict earlier than you realise change must occur.”