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 selections whereas, forward of this weekend’s Brazil Grand Prix, Norris mentioned he felt that “deep down” Verstappen knew the manoeuvre was unsuitable.
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 nice changes or a small addition. It is all fairly clear.
“The rules must be in place however 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 one of the best 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, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
“So I do really feel, once more a private view, not one among 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 are not successfully volunteers and I do assume inside the pool of stewards we have now, they’re positively as much as commonplace. So it isn’t saying something unhealthy in regards to the present stewards, it is simply saying I really feel we must be having system stewarding week in, week out.”
The FIA needs to talk to drivers in regards to the racing guidelines to offer clearer tips sooner or later. Nevertheless, Verstappen – who has made a number of references to falling out of affection with F1 – says the collection has turn out to be 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, 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 feel it is over-regulated? Most likely sure. I imply, typically, the rulebook is just getting larger and larger each single yr, I do not assume that is at all times the suitable means ahead.”
Russell nonetheless says that together with skilled stewards, the rules do want additional clarification however they solely turn out to be highlighted when the wording is examined.
He added: “In case you learn the principles, there are strains that say if you happen to’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 positive it does must be cleaned up somewhat bit.
“On the finish of the day, each incident is totally different. For positive, 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 rules. You want one thing or selections to be incorrect or issues to be pushed past its restrict earlier than you realise change must occur.”