Drivers are looking for FIA answers as to why Verstappen was not penalized in Austin

Formula 1 drivers are set to review the US Grand Prix battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the drivers’ conference in Mexico amid questions over how the FIA’s race rules will be enforced.

Verstappen and Norris had a tough battle for third in Austin until they both spun out at Turn 12 in Austin with four laps remaining. Norris overtook his title rival off the track, earning a five-second penalty, while Verstappen escaped punishment for pushing his teammate out.

According to the race standards guidelines as written, Verstappen was right as the defending car and did not have to leave the Norris race room. McLaren launched a right of review petition on Thursday to have the case reconsidered, with Norris saying he was the defending party and not the Dutchman because he was already ahead of Verstappen.

While the stewards appear to be enforcing the rules correctly as they stand, several leading drivers have objected to the practice of drivers being able to launch onto the inside without regard to whether they are able to turn or not, as long as they are ahead of their rival at the top.

“It’s always been a gray area,” Lewis Hamilton said. He continued: “They may need to make some adjustments for sure. We also have inconsistencies with the rulings that depend on the supervisors who are there. As a sport, we need to raise the level in all areas.”

“I’ve experienced that a few times with Max. You shouldn’t be able to jack the car up from the inside and then drive off and stay there.”

Hamilton’s team-mate, George Russell, says he is interested to know how the FIA ​​views the incident now, and whether their interpretation means Verstappen was absolutely right or was exploiting an unintended loophole in the current guidelines – or “resented” like Sauber. Driver Valtteri Bottas described it.

“I don’t think you can write a set of regulations that cover every possible scenario, it’s a very fine line,” said Russell, director of the Drivers’ Union.

“I’m really interested to know whether the FIA ​​thinks, after reviewing everything again, whether or not Max should be punished for what he did. In my view, he should have been punished. So, there’s not really a loophole if they say: Build According to our regulations, he should not have been punished, he is exploring a loophole.”

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz said he also had questions about how aggressive the defending car was.

“That’s a very good question and I need to ask the stewards, because it obviously changes the way we go about racing,” he said. “It means the guy defending inside can brake as late as he wants and can fake the fact that you’re trying to get on top when you’re not.

“It has to be made clear because in this case both are to blame; Max for running too far and Lando for getting an off-track position. That’s why this particular scenario is a very complex scenario in terms of how to judge it.”

Both Russell and Sainz agreed that a gravel strip on the outside of Turn 12 would largely solve the underlying problem, and a few drivers expect similar issues to occur this weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

“The root cause of the problem is there is a circuit that allows you to run wide,” Russell said. “If we take Austria last year as an example, you had, I don’t know, 300 problems with the track limits. They put gravel, no problems.

“If you put gravel in that corner, Lando won’t explode and overtake, and Max won’t brake late and go either.”

Sainz added that making changes to the track would be more straightforward than endless discussions about race rules.

“If you think about it, the solution may resolve on its own through circuit parameters or modifications. We keep going in circles with guidelines that might be easier to solve with certain minor changes to the path, which some paths have already done.”

It is understood that the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, which also hosts the MotoGP World Championship and has different requirements for the run-off, is in discussions with the FIA ​​about potential changes for 2025.

Additional reporting by Alex Kalinukas and Erwin Jaeggi