F1 drivers expect changes from “productive” FIA meeting on racing guidelines

Modifications to Formulation 1’s racing tips masking attacking strikes on inside traces are anticipated following a prolonged assembly with the drivers forward of the Qatar Grand Prix.

The FIA dedicated to reassessing F1’s ‘Driving Requirements Tips’ that inform stewards’ selections on contentious racing strikes in addition to how the drivers go about implementing their manoeuvres, following Max Verstappen’s battle with Lando Norris at Austin final month.

The FIA determined it could current its findings to the drivers at this weekend’s Qatar spherical, after they’d collectively agreed modifications had been wanted across the circumstances of the Crimson Bull driver’s strikes towards his McLaren rival.

The rationale for coming again to the drivers earlier than the 2024 season concluded was to get their subsequent suggestions on the proposed modifications, in addition to getting them examined in race conditions.

The assembly occurred at 7.30pm native time in Qatar on Thursday – as an alternative of the standard post-FP2 slot for the everyday drivers’ assembly due to the dash format this weekend – and lasted practically an hour. This was longer than many groups had been anticipating, as it’s understood the discussions lined a prolonged vary of racing eventualities and concepts for enhancements.

However Mercedes driver George Russell – the one currently-racing director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation – mentioned afterwards: “The primary dialogue was about overtaking.”

“Numerous drivers are aligned that in case you are the overtaking automobile on the within, rule primary is you’ve got to have the ability to keep on the circuit,” he continued, when requested by Motorsport.com if Verstappen’s Austin techniques had been closed off on account of the assembly.

“When you’re in a position to keep on the circuit, you’re in your proper to run the driving force vast, because it has been for all of us since go-karting: for those who’re overtaking anyone on the within, you’ve got bought the precise to run them vast.”

He later added: “Proper now there’s a line of regulation that claims the within driver wants to depart room to the man on the surface from the apex to the exit. […] I believe that is going to be getting binned off and I hope it’ll be from this weekend onwards.”

“It was fairly productive,” Russell mentioned of the assembly total. “I believe all of us agree that the rules, they do not want large modifications. I believe they only want the odd sentence eliminated or adjusted.

“However I believe everyone’s clear with what occurred in Austin, what ought to have been a penalty, what occurred in Mexico [where Verstappen was sanctioned twice for his subsequent moves against Norris] was rightly penalised.  

“And customarily talking, over the course of the 12 months, I believe the selections have been fairly good. It was simply most likely Austin that was the outlier. So, yeah, simply nice tweaks.”

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24, Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Workforce VCARB 01

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

When Verstappen confronted the media shortly after Russell, he mentioned: “The primary drawback is the tracks that enable these type of issues. […] When you have gravel, that really stops you from doing issues that – taking a bit extra threat than regular.”

Russell mentioned of this: “We additionally concluded that the majority of those points are right down to the circuits.

“We spoke about quite a few the problems in Austin. I believe numerous the overtakes would not have even been tried had there been gravel there reminiscent of, Austria Flip 4 – the downhill right-hander. You are going to go within the gravel for those who go in 1-2% over the restrict.  

“Silverstone, at Stowe there was clearly an incredible race in a few years in the past with Lewis [Hamilton] and Checo [Perez] and Charles [Leclerc, in 2022]. Finally everybody was off the monitor, however that is as a result of the monitor allowed you.

“The circuits are the basis trigger and the rules are type of like an interim repair that we have to agree on till we are able to get all the circuits in a correct method.”

When pressed on what the assembly meant for the rules concerning a driver overtaking on the surface, Russell replied: “I believe the overtaking guidelines on the surface won’t be altering a lot and I do not assume we have actually seen a lot of an issue [with that].”

Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle into flip 1, as Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24 overtakes Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

Picture by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Pictures

Hamilton revealed the size of the discussions on Thursday evening when he acknowledged “there was speak of, like, a warning” being issued to drivers that went towards the racing guidelines – just like such guidelines in different sports activities. “That is principally like yellow card in your hand, you already know you are gonna have that one warning,” he added.

However the seven-time world champion defined that the drivers had agreed this was a non-starter, as “for those who waited for the final race of the 12 months to utilise your one warning, that does not work”.

“So, we’re simply working away collectively,” he continued. “I believe simply from that assembly we positively will likely be shifting in the precise path.”

Hamilton additionally mentioned “that is the very best assembly I might say we’ve had” on such issues, which displays strategies from Motorsport.com sources that the temper of the assembly was constructive total.

And when Russell’s remark from Mexico that “19 out of 20 drivers mentioned, ‘nicely, if it is incorrect, make the change as we speak’” was put to Verstappen, given the implication that he was the one driver to object to such a suggestion following the Austin race, he responded by saying on Thursday: “No, it was not the case that it was only one specific driver agreeing or disagreeing with sure issues.”

A public assertion on the outcomes of the assembly is predicted to be issued on Friday in Qatar.