Amid ongoing debates about racing guidelines in Formula 1, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas has delivered a scathing critique of how drivers are “taking the p*” with the rules, especially following the clash between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the U.S. Grand Prix.**
In Austin, Norris was penalized after going wide while overtaking Verstappen at Turn 12, costing him a podium finish. McLaren argued that Norris was forced off-track by Verstappen, but the stewards ruled that Verstappen, as the driver ahead at the apex, was entitled to the corner. This decision led to outcry from McLaren and sparked fresh discussion on whether the current guidelines are enabling risky tactics rather than clean racing.
Bottas refrained from taking a specific stance on the Norris-Verstappen clash but admitted that some drivers are bending the rules, pushing boundaries to gain an edge. “It’s always been pretty clear,” Bottas noted. “Some drivers are pushing the limits of the regulations more, almost like taking the p*** out of it, but the rules are clear.”
Bottas himself was involved in a Turn 12 incident with George Russell, where Russell received a penalty for forcing Bottas wide. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff slammed the stewards’ inconsistency, suggesting bias, given that Verstappen went unpenalized for similar moves. Bottas, however, took a more measured approach, recognizing the challenges that come with rotating stewards and differing track conditions. “As long as you have different stewards, you will have different opinions,” Bottas remarked, adding that the FIA is aware of these inconsistencies and is exploring solutions.
Bottas pinpointed the rule giving the lead driver rights to the corner apex as a contributing factor to dubious driving tactics. Drivers, he observed, are now diving for the apex at all costs to gain control of the corner, regardless of whether they can safely navigate it. “I think now with the guidelines, people are really making sure they are ahead at the apex, no matter if they make the corner or not,” Bottas said, adding that this approach skews the spirit of fair racing. However, he acknowledged that finding a solution is complex.
With pressure mounting for clearer guidelines and fairer officiating, Bottas’s critique underscores a broader call within F1 for more consistent and race-worthy regulations. As the season heads to Mexico, teams and fans alike await potential reforms to bring clarity and balance back to the racing circuit.
