Lewis Hamilton believes a “gray area” in F1 rules means Max Verstappen has “got away with it for too long” when it comes to defending his position on the track. The drivers are preparing to meet Lando Norris on Friday to discuss the Dutchman’s US GP incident.
Thursday’s media day ahead of this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix was filled with controversy over the lap 52 incident at last Sunday’s race in the United States. The incident cost Norris a time penalty on the podium for overtaking title rival Verstappen after a late race. Fighting for third place.
McLaren has launched a right-of-review challenge to overturn that decision, with an initial hearing scheduled for Friday at 9.30pm (UK time) at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
With F1’s overtaking guidelines and the consistency of stewards’ decisions and punishments in the spotlight following a number of controversial incidents over the Austin weekend, seven-time world champion Hamilton said F1 must “raise the bar in all areas” where it governs the race. said. – and suggested that his old title rival should not be allowed access to his defensive position.
“It’s always been a gray area,” Hamilton said. “So he got away with it for a long time.
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Lando Norris overtook Max Verstappen for third, but both appeared to have gone off track after going wide.
“They will definitely have to make some adjustments and obviously there are inconsistencies in rulings, weekends and weekends depending on which stewards are there.
“As a sport, we need to raise standards in all areas. If you look at other global sports, they have full-time referees and I’m sure that won’t be a bad thing for our sport.
“I’ve experienced it many times in the Max. You can’t launch the car on the inside, get ahead, then take off and still maintain the position.”
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Footage from Max Verstappen’s car during his controversial incident with Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 Sao Paulo GP.
speaking Sky Sports F1Hamilton drew direct parallels between last Sunday’s controversy and the 2021 title fight, particularly his fierce wheel-to-wheel duel with Verstappen in that year’s race in Brazil.
“It’s interesting that people are talking about it now because the same thing happened to me in 2021,” Hamilton said.
“For example, if you consider Brazil, you’re ahead with the brakes on, but the car (on the inside) has to come off the brakes and go wide without taking the corner. Then they’ll say: They both went wide, but they had to avoid a collision, so it was a choice. There was no room.
“We definitely have to do something about it because it’s happening a lot now. You can’t let off the brakes, go faster, go off track and still be able to maintain your position.”
Verstappen: ‘I always take corners’
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Max Verstappen has made his statement after being awarded a controversial penalty for Lando Norris overtaking him in Austin last time out.
Austin’s stewards said Norris, like his McLaren, said cars overtaking on the outside “must have their front axles at least in line with the front axles of the other cars at the apex and exit of the corner.”
Both drivers then went wide off the track on corner exit, but Norris was penalized five seconds for “gaining a sustained advantage by going off the track” as he returned to the track ahead of Red Bull to gain position.
In Mexico on Thursday, Norris reiterated his view that it was Verstappen who was actually at fault, saying: “I think running on the exit is wrong and that’s not how racing should be.”
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Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok believes the rules need to be clarified on what constitutes fair overtaking following the incident between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix.
But Verstappen denied suggestions he was manipulating the rule book.
“It’s very impressive that people can read my mind,” said the Dutchman, who leads Norris by 57 points at the world championships.
“I always try to make corners. I didn’t want to take shortcuts.
“I don’t know how to answer these people.”
Drivers discussing controversy and stewards’ decision on Friday
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Following Max Verstappen’s altercation with Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said the Dutchman was always at the ‘limit’ of regulations.
Mercedes George Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said the grid’s 20 drivers would discuss the Verstappen-Norris incident, the differing views surrounding it and other recent controversies, at a pre-planned meeting in Mexico on Friday. Evening after the regular driver briefing with the FIA race directors.
“The drivers are going to sit down after the driver briefing anyway,” Russell said.
“That was actually planned before the Austin weekend. And of course there is a lot going on now, especially with the swearing situation (the incident for which Verstappen was punished at the Singapore GP).
“I think we could talk to the FIA and understand their perspective first and then make a judgement.”
Russell said F1’s management had a difficult job to carry out, but wondered whether senior management could improve consistency in decision-making.
He added, “Ultimately, the managers are doing their job to the best of their ability.” “They are doing their best.
“They have a set of guidelines that they adhere to, but maybe we need… We’ve talked about consistency in the past. The only way to have consistency is to have the same steward every race weekend. .
“Now they are very experienced, but they are here almost as volunteers. It is not a professional paid job. If you take football as an example, there is still controversy, but referees are professionals and that is their full-time job, that is where they earn their income and at the moment “As a sport, that’s probably the direction we should be heading in.”
speaking Sky Sports F1Russell said of the drivers’ role in shaping the rules of race participation: “We are certainly able to participate and are always asked for our views and opinions.
“You’ll never see every possible scenario, otherwise you’d have a set of regulations that are 100 pages long. You have to live and learn from those experiences. Broadly speaking, I think the regulations are fine. Maybe there’s a need for them here and there. Some adjustments are needed.
“But my personal view is that if you have a gravel trap, like a corner exit or a grassy area, drivers won’t go there and we won’t have this discussion. And this has been the case for many years now.”
Should F1’s racing rules be revised? Drivers have something to say…
Pierre Gasly, Alpine: “I think Austin definitely emphasized that there are things that need to change: I think there are rules as written and more common sense about how to approach racing.
“I think there is a gray area at the moment where our drivers can benefit from regulation in an unfair way in which they approach racing. And this is something I think we will all agree on and we will work on together with the government to ensure that it does not divide us. There have been a few incidents that have left me with mixed feelings about the decision, so I think the FIA needs some clarity and some better written rules to improve racing for the future.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas: “I think it’s also a little bit track dependent and obviously Austin, you know, especially Turn 12 is always one of those hot spots that happens easily and a lot every year. Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s part of the race, so we’ll see what we come up with.”
Sergio Perez, Red Bull: “I think Austin is really the worst in terms of the track layout. Turns 1, 12, and even 11 can be pretty difficult in that respect. So, yes, it can be advantageous and disadvantageous. And I think, for example, It’s not a problem.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: “I mean, Max has always been at the limit of regulation, but that’s what makes Max racing so exciting. And that’s also why I really love fighting with him. And it’s always going to be at the limit of regulation.
“And that’s what makes the fight so interesting. That said, I think there are a few things that need to be discussed in Austin, probably with the FIA, because I think the penalties are a bit too much at times. It’s a harsh situation, so we “We need to make sure that both the FIA and our drivers are aligned to be clear about what can and cannot be done.”
Live Mexico City GP schedule on Sky Sports F1
Friday, October 25
7:00 PM: Mexico City GP Practice 1 (session starts at 7:30 PM)
9pm: F1 Show
10:45 PM: Mexico City GP Practice 2 (session starts 11 PM)*
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Take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments from the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Saturday, October 26th
6.15pm: Mexico City GP Practice 3 (session starts at 6.30pm)
9pm: Preparing for Mexico City GP qualifying*
10pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying*
Sunday, October 27
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP strengthened*
8 p.m.: Mexico City Grand Prix*
10pm: Checkered flag: Mexico City GP reaction
*Also shown live on Sky Sports Main Event (race build-up from 7.30pm on Sunday).
Formula 1’s Americas Triple Heading continues this weekend with the Mexico City Grand Prix, with all sessions broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership. There is no contract and you can cancel at any time.
