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 broad 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 flawed.
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 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 assume it [the rulebook] wants ripping up in any respect. It simply wants some tremendous changes or a small addition. It is all fairly clear.
“The rules have to be in place but it surely additionally must be remembered they’re tips. There’s not a written regulation and it is right down to the stewards to take the very best judgement.
“When issues come right down to interpretation, and when issues are about consistency, you possibly can argue when you 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
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
“So I do really feel, once more a private view, not certainly one of on behalf of the drivers, however private view, I do assume 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 don’t seem to be successfully volunteers and I do assume throughout the pool of stewards we have got now, they’re undoubtedly as much as customary. So it isn’t saying something dangerous concerning 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 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 collection has grow to be 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 when you take away guidelines, you then get right into a battle, you then need extra guidelines as a result of it isn’t clear what’s allowed or not.
“Then when you’ve 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, usually, the rulebook is barely getting larger and greater each single 12 months, I do not assume that is all the time the fitting method ahead.”
Russell nevertheless says that together with skilled stewards, the rules do want additional clarification however they solely grow to be highlighted when the wording is examined.
He added: “Should you learn the principles, there are strains that say when you’re driving erratically or harmful, you may be punished and you’ll argue if a driver outbreaks himself and does 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 have to be cleaned up a little bit bit.
“On the finish of the day, each incident is completely different. For certain, now issues are evolving… it is like the protection of the automobiles, you want a foul 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.”