Max Verstappen has pushed back against George Russell’s claim that a single driver opposed mid-season changes to Formula 1’s racing guidelines. Ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Verstappen clarified his stance while calling for a focus on track layouts rather than adding more regulations.
The Backstory: Controversial Stewarding Decisions
The push for revising the rules stems from incidents at the United States Grand Prix, where Verstappen was cleared of penalties for forcing Lando Norris off track, but the McLaren driver was later penalized in a similar situation. Just one week later, Verstappen himself was hit with two 10-second penalties for comparable moves in Mexico, reigniting the debate over consistency in stewarding.
These incidents prompted drivers to meet with F1 officials to discuss immediate rule adjustments. Russell, serving as a Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) Director, suggested there was one dissenting driver. Verstappen, often speculated to be the lone holdout, denied the accusation.
Verstappen: “Not True”
Verstappen refuted Russell’s comments, stating:
“That was not the case. It was just one particular driver agreeing or disagreeing with certain things.”
The reigning world champion emphasized that the issue lies less with the rules and more with track designs, particularly circuits with vast asphalt run-off areas that allow drivers to avoid consequences when leaving the racing line.
“We still need a few more discussions about certain things. But I think it more has to do with the track layout. In some places, you just have a lot of runoff, and that creates already a lot of issues.”
A Call for Gravel and Consequences
Verstappen, known for his aggressive racing style, has been criticized for exploiting rules allowing drivers ahead at the apex to deny space to competitors. However, he believes that preventive measures like gravel traps would naturally deter such incidents.
“When there is no gravel, you can just drive off the track without any consequences,” Verstappen explained. “On some tracks, you see either a clear overtake around the outside or people backing out because they’re afraid of going into the gravel. That already cancels out 90% of our issues.”
A Balanced Approach to Regulation
While Verstappen acknowledged that F1 is becoming overregulated, he sympathized with the FIA’s challenge of finding the right balance.
“Sometimes it’s not that easy to just throw all the rules overboard. But I think the biggest issue we have is tracks with too much run-off.”
He also urged track owners to invest in modifications if they want to retain F1 races.
“How much do you want F1 to drive on your track then? It’s as simple as that.”
Qatar Implements Verstappen’s Solution
The Lusail International Circuit has already begun implementing changes, adding gravel strips to corners to address track limits. Verstappen welcomed the adjustments, suggesting they would reduce racing controversies.
“Gravel, of course, as soon as you touch it, you lose a lot of lap time. You don’t want to touch it. Around here, there are a lot of high-speed corners, so I think there will be fewer problems with the kind of racing we’ve had in some places.”
Looking Ahead
With Verstappen denying resistance to changes and advocating for better track design, the spotlight shifts to how the FIA and circuit owners will respond. As drivers seek clarity and consistency, Verstappen’s pragmatic approach to track improvements could set the tone for resolving F1’s rulebook dilemmas.
