FIA Keeps F1’s New Penalty Rules Secret, Teams Confused

The FIA’s new driving directives remain undisclosed, leaving teams and drivers unsure of the rules ahead of the Miami GP this weekend.

The FIA has revealed that “new directives” have been put in place regarding driving and penalties in Formula 1, but for now, the public and the media will remain in the dark about the specifics. It seems even the teams and drivers may not fully understand the details of these changes.

This revelation comes after Max Verstappen expressed frustration over the 5-second penalty he received, which likely cost him the victory in Jeddah last week. Following Verstappen’s involvement in similar incidents last season, the FIA decided to adjust its penalty system.

While some (though not the majority) believe it should have been Oscar Piastri, the race winner and new championship leader, who should have been penalized for forcing Verstappen off the track, it was in fact Verstappen who received the penalty for cutting the corner and taking the lead.

It is well known that the FIA and drivers agreed on new penalty guidelines late last season, particularly after incidents involving Verstappen and Norris in Austin and Mexico. However, the exact details of these guidelines have never been made public, including those that have been recently discussed.

A spokesperson for the FIA confirmed, “Yes, there are new directives.”
“But unfortunately, it was decided not to publish them.”

The new directives are believed to state that the driver on the inside of a corner has the priority, even if the cars are side by side. This could potentially eliminate the concept of “first car to the apex” in some situations, aiming to prevent tactics Verstappen is known for.

However, even Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, seemed confused about these directives when he showed printed photos of Verstappen and Piastri side by side to the press after the race.

A source within Red Bull said, “It seems there are new rules, but no one really knows what they are, and they are open to interpretation.”

This could be another hot topic of debate to watch for as the F1 paddock heads into the Miami GP this weekend.

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FIA Keeps F1’s New Penalty Rules Secret, Teams Confused FIA Keeps F1’s New Penalty Rules Secret, Teams Confused