In the lead-up to the sprint weekend in Qatar, the FIA held its third annual evaluation meeting with the chairpersons of the Formula 1 stewards and the drivers. An extensive discussion ensued about driving standards, penalties, and the application of current rules. The decisions and consistency of the stewards, particularly in the issuing of penalties, have come under fire frequently in recent weeks.
On Friday, the FIA presented the outcome of the meeting on its own website. The organization emphasized that the annual meetings are intended as an open forum; both the drivers and the stewards can freely express their opinions on the current regulations and possible improvements. According to the FIA, this has gathered valuable feedback to refine the guidelines – where necessary. Moreover, the discussion was conducted ‘candidly, openly, and in a very collegial atmosphere’.
The meeting primarily discussed the Driving Standards Guidelines, or the driving standards. At the request of the drivers, these DSGs were introduced in 2022. They are meant to clarify what is and is not allowed when overtaking and defending. The stewards use these driving standards in practice as guidelines. “The aim is to create a level playing field and ensure consistent decision-making,” writes the FIA. However, in recent weeks, many drivers have complained about ‘inconsistency’ in the stewards’ assessments.
Driving Standards, Consistency, and Safety
The drivers reportedly discussed at least five high-profile examples: the incident between Oscar Piastri and Antonelli in São Paulo, that between Carlos Sainz Jr and Bearman in Monza, Sainz versus Lawson in Zandvoort, Lando Norris versus Charles Leclerc in Austin, and the incident between Max Verstappen and Leclerc in Mexico City. These examples formed the basis for the debate, according to the FIA.
From the discussion, several clear desires emerged from the drivers. They want more emphasis on respecting yellow flags and an investigation into additional concepts to increase safety. They argue that decisions by the stewards – when they do not have all the relevant information – should be postponed until after the race. Furthermore, the stewards should acknowledge that the current guidelines can never cover all situations, making it crucial that there is always an experienced (ex-)driver involved in the decision-making process. Finally, the drivers demand more clarity about blue flags, for example by explicitly including them in the driving standards policy. The FIA will not make any changes for 2025, but the points raised will be taken into consideration for next year.
