Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes the double dose of penalties levied upon Max Verstappen in last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix will fundamentally change how drivers go racing in the future.
Multiple aggressive maneuvers by Verstappen against McLaren’s Lando Norris in last Sunday’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez landed the Red Bull driver in hot water with the stewards.
A week after the US Grand Prix in Austin where the championship leader escaped punishment after a similar incident with Norris, and amid widespread criticism of his driving, the stewards justifiably lowered the boom on the Dutchman, hitting him with two 10-second penalties for forcing his rival off the track.
The sanctions were not only consistent with the rules, they also took into account a review of F1’s guidelines which were debated by the FIA with the sport’s drivers during last Friday’s traditional post-practice briefing.
A proper revision of the guidelines will officially take effect at next month’s Qatar Grand Prix, but a change of authority was certainly on display in the stewards’ office last weekend.
And Wolff sees last Sunday’s penalties as a pivotal moment that will discourage aggressive tactics, particularly those employed by Verstappen.
“A driver will always push to the limit and when the rules - or the interpretation of the rules - allow a certain way of racing, a driver like Max is always going to exploit it,” commented the Mercedes chief, speaking to the media in Mexico City.
“I think now there has been a new interpretation and execution of those regulations that I think will change the way everybody races in the future. You won't see that anymore.”
Wolff emphasized the importance of ensuring that drivers leave sufficient room for their competitors, which he believes is crucial for fostering fair and exciting racing.
“I always say that the drivers know exactly what's happening,” he said. “You know when somebody is releasing the brake too late and just drags you into the corner, and pushes you wide.
“From the early days in go-karts, you know that you're not going to survive on the outside if you're not ahead. So I think the rules are pretty clear, and the drivers know that.
“Everybody's trying to push that and, if you get away with things, that is the new limit. So will it change? Absolutely.
“I think now there is precedent, and I think there were others taking penalties in the race too.
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“From now on, you've got to leave space on the outside of the corner if the car is next to you. Braking late and dragging the other car out of the track whilst also driving off track - I think that's not on anymore.
"That's not allowed and I think it's good for racing.”
As the season progresses and the new interpretations of the rules take effect, the dynamics of racing in F1 could evolve dramatically.
With Wolff’s predictions of a more cautious approach to overtaking, the landscape of the sport may shift, challenging drivers to adapt to the new standards while maintaining the thrill that has defined Formula 1 racing.
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