George Russell shares ‘19 out of 20’ drivers agreed on racing guidelines changes

Photo: Sebastian Kawka / Mercedes

29. 10. 2024 08:00 CET
2 min

George Russell shares ‘19 out of 20’ drivers agreed on racing guidelines changes

Tereza Hořínková
News.gp journalist and a girl with big dreams

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George Russell indicated that "19 out of 20" drivers aligned on what F1 racing guidelines should be like and called for a change in the soon future.

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The spotlight is back on Formula 1’s racing guidelines after recent penalties given during the Mexico City Grand Prix to Max Verstappen.

He received two 10-second penalties and two penalty points for incidents in Turn 4 and Turn 8, involving his title rival Lando Norris.

Just a week earlier, at the United States Grand Prix, Verstappen forced Norris off the track during a late overtaking attempt, which led to a penalty for Norris. 

George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), shared that almost all drivers agreed in Mexico, that changes are needed right away.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly said: “There’s one rule which needs to be changed. It’s that whoever has got their front axle first at the apex has got the priority.”

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton added: “You shouldn’t be able to come off the brakes and run more speed in and go off the track and still hold your place.”

According to Russell, 19 of the 20 drivers on the grid support updating the rules now rather than waiting until the 2025 season. He believes that the current guidelines lack clarity, which has led to confusion and inconsistent penalties during races.

"I think the stewards are totally on board with what needs to change," said the Mercedes driver quoted by RacingNews365.

"They wanted to wait until 2025 [to sort the guidelines], so it is consistent through this season, and I would say 19 out of 20 drivers said: 'Well, if it is incorrect, make the change today'.

"I am glad to see those incidents were punished, and I suspect moving forward to Brazil, what we saw [in Mexico] and [in the United States], you won't be able to get away with it.

"Sometimes it seems more difficult [to make changes] when things have to be approved, we have to go to a vote, but as I said, 19 drivers are aligned on what needs [to happen.]

"You see the number of manoeuvres and it is just getting beyond entertainment and beyond sporting [fairness]."

Russell also brought up his battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton during the Mexican Grand Prix, where he kept the seven-time champion behind until the start of lap 66, noting that this, to him, represents “hard and fair” racing.

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