Analyzing the Controversy Surrounding F1 Racing Rules After Verstappen vs Piastri

The recent five-second penalty imposed on Max Verstappen for cutting Turn 2 and gaining an advantage against Oscar Piastri has reignited debates about the racing rules in Formula 1. Regardless of your stance, it’s clear that this incident once again puts F1’s racing guidelines under the microscope, highlighting what drivers can and cannot do when competing for position on the track.

The Grey Areas in F1 Racing Guidelines

Last year, during the US GP in Austin, we saw grey areas emerge around acceptable behavior, as demonstrated by Max Verstappen vs Lando Norris. At that time, guidelines stated that whoever had their front axle ahead at the apex had the right to the corner. However, it’s relatively straightforward for a driver of Verstappen’s caliber to head off the possibility of being overtaken around the outside by releasing the brakes, knowing there is no hope of making the corner, but ensuring he will be enshrined as the one with the axle line in the right place while the other guy spears off the track.

These guidelines were amended following the incident, as many drivers felt Verstappen had exploited the grey areas excessively. In Saudi Arabia, the stewards stood firm against Red Bull’s lobbying, imposing a five-second penalty on Verstappen instead of a 10-second one. However, it was clear that Verstappen was never going to make the corner while Piastri was – and on the correct line.

The Need for Stricter Penalties in F1

According to Fabien Gaillard, the guidelines serve their purpose fairly well but are flexible when several controversial situations arise in quick succession. However, if a driver consciously decides that it is better to cut the corner to unduly stay in front of another car (and therefore risk a penalty) rather than accept to concede on the track or return the position later, your guidelines will be useless.

Beyond the guidelines, when the circuit does not allow for a better outcome, penalties should be a real deterrent. When Verstappen decides to take a corner at absurdly high speed on the outside of Turn 1, knowing fully well that he would never make it through the corner on the track, seeing the stewards impose only a five-second penalty instead of 10s because it was the first lap is almost laughable.

The Human Element in F1 Decision Making

Guidelines are all well and good, but humans still make the final decision – Oleg Karpov. Whenever there is a controversial decision by the stewards, there will inevitably be those who disagree. However, amid all the outcry about the lack of consistency, perhaps it’s also necessary to note that something is actually working when the decisions make sense.

Someone had to make the call – and to me, at least, it feels like there’d be a much bigger outcry if Verstappen had been let off the hook. You can watch his onboard frame by frame and pause the footage at the right moment to see where his wheels are compared to Piastri’s McLaren – but the stewards are not new to the series either, and they probably know that Verstappen will never give up the lead like that.

A Call for Change in F1 Racing Guidelines?

Jake Boxall-Legge argues that there’s no real issue with the racing guidelines; most drivers have no trouble obeying, and a clear marker has been laid down in the wake of the Verstappen-Piastri side-by-side jostle into Turn 1 at Jeddah. However, he suggests that if you run across and gain an advantage, that’s a 10-second penalty; Verstappen only got five because it was the first lap. If you think you can take the lead and run a five or 10-second advantage, why not take the punt? That’s what the system allows.

And if you don’t think that’s in the spirit of the rules, you’re right. Vote for change. Vote Grass/Gravel.