Formula 1 is set to witness significant alterations in its racing guidelines regarding attacking moves on inside lines. This comes after a comprehensive meeting with the drivers ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. The FIA has committed to reassessing the 'Driving Standards Guidelines' to ensure fair and consistent decisions by stewards and drivers' maneuvers.

Redefining Racing Etiquette in Formula 1

Overview of the Meeting

The meeting took place at 7.30 pm local time in Qatar on Thursday, deviating from the usual post-FP2 slot due to the sprint format. It lasted nearly an hour and covered a wide range of racing scenarios and ideas for improvements. Mercedes driver George Russell, the current director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, emphasized that the main discussion centered around overtaking. He stated that if a driver is on the inside while overtaking, they must be able to stay on the circuit. This principle, which has been followed since go-karting, gives the overtaking car the right to run the opponent wide. Russell also mentioned that a line of regulation stating that the inside driver must leave room from the apex to the exit is likely to be removed. He believes that these tweaks will lead to more fair and exciting races.

Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg, and Daniel Ricciardo also participated in the meeting. They discussed various issues, such as the influence of circuits on overtaking. Russell pointed out that many overtakes that might not have been attempted without gravel, like at Austria Turn 4 or Silverstone's Stowe, were made possible by the track conditions. He emphasized that the circuits are the root cause of many overtaking issues and that the guidelines are an interim fix until the circuits can be improved.

Verstappen's Perspective

Max Verstappen, after facing the media, highlighted that the main problem lies with the tracks that allow certain risky maneuvers. He mentioned that having gravel can prevent drivers from taking unnecessary risks. Russell agreed, stating that most of the issues are circuit-related. They discussed specific examples like the races at different circuits and how the track characteristics affect overtaking.

When asked about the implications for the guidelines regarding overtaking on the outside, Russell said that the rules on the outside will not change much and that there have not been significant problems in this area.

Hamilton's Insights

Lewis Hamilton revealed that there was talk of issuing a warning to drivers who violate the racing rules, similar to other sports. However, he explained that waiting until the last race of the year to use the warning would not be effective. The drivers agreed to work together to move in the right direction. Hamilton also described this as the best meeting on such matters and reflected the positive mood of the gathering.

When Russell's comment about the majority of drivers wanting changes was put to Verstappen, he denied that it was just one driver objecting. This shows the collective effort of the drivers to address the issues and find solutions.

A public statement on the meeting's results is expected to be issued on Friday in Qatar, providing further clarity on the proposed changes and their impact on future races.