FIA agrees to tweak F1 racing guidelines after Austin controversy

The FIA has reportedly agreed to revise Formula 1’s racing guidelines following a concertation with the sport's drivers in the wake of the controversy surrounding Lando Norris’s penalty in last weekend’s US Grand Prix at Austin.

The decision comes after a lengthy discussion between the governing body and F1’s drivers in Friday’s post-session drivers’ briefing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City where the group voiced its views on the incident but also on broader on-track conduct.

During the US Grand Prix, Norris was handed a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while battling with Verstappen. The decision stirred up criticism, as McLaren argued that by the point of his off-track move, Verstappen had become the attacking car.

In a heated post-race comment, the team claimed that it was Verstappen, not him, who should have been identified as the overtaking driver, implying that the penalty was unjustified given the circumstances.

In Friday’s meeting, attended by the Mexico City Grand Prix stewards among with each team’s sporting manager and a representative of Formula One Management, drivers were provided with a comprehensive explanation for Norris’ sanction.

But discussions also addressed a perceived loophole in the current guidelines that Verstappen may have been exploiting when defending against rivals’ overtaking attempts.

• Read also: FIA rejects McLaren’s ‘right of review’ request for Norris penalty

According to a report from Motorsport.com, there were diverging opinions among the drivers. There were those that sided with Norris, agreeing that Verstappen had taken a hard-line defensive tactic, which they viewed as pushing the boundaries of what should be permitted.

But others felt that Verstappen’s tactics were aggressive but still within the framework of the rules as currently written.

Despite the lack of complete unanimity, there was apparently sufficient support among the group to justify a few adjustments to the guidelines before the end of the season. As a result, the FIA plans to present its revisions for feedback at a follow-up meeting with the drivers in Qatar next month.

The revisions are expected to be focused on achieving greater consistency in stewards’ decisions and determinations, particularly regarding incidents where drivers use hard defensive tactics or where the lines between attacking and defending blur.

The FIA released a statement confirming the drivers’ discussions in Mexico, emphasizing the ongoing effort to refine and improve the guidelines.

“There was a general commitment to continue to update the driving standards guidelines,” read the statement.
“Bearing in mind the drivers requested the drivers’ racing guidelines and agreed to their introduction along with the GPDA, each time they are updated it is consultation with the drivers.

“It is generally accepted that they should continue to evolve, not because of isolated incidents such as Austin, but driven by the desire to bring consistency to determinations and decisions from the stewards.”

Friday’s meeting, despite some specific disagreements, reportedly maintained a collaborative tone. This suggests a willingness to work together towards clearer regulations that promote fair and consistent racing in Formula 1.

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