“Burn the papers”: Formula 1 is groaning under the rules

In anger at the rejection of the sports judges, Sebastian Vettel took refuge in irony. The Ferrari driver said he would probably have to “retire” to avoid penalties on the Formula 1 track in the future. The race stewards' decision not to reopen the proceedings surrounding Vettel's Canada victory, which he lost due to a time penalty, has not put an end to the simmering debate about the strict regulations. “There are too many paragraphs in the rule book. How can this be changed? “Just burn the papers,” said Vettel before the race in France on Sunday.

Anyone who assumes that the Hesse, who was deprived of his first win of the season, got lost in his anger at the Formula 1 laws and the track judges, only has to listen to Vettel's colleagues in Le Castellet. The 31-year-old's theses have fairly high approval ratings in the paddock.

Sainz: “The spirit of racing is not taken into account” “There are too many guidelines for penalties that are then applied,” said Haas driver Romain Grosjean. McLaren driver Carlos Sainz said something similar: "There is this rule that shouldn't be there because it is too sharp and too black and white and doesn't really take into account the spirit of racing."

In its constant efforts to ensure the highest level of safety, Formula 1 has apparently taken the wrong path. The controversy surrounding the Montreal incident, when Vettel went onto the grass and crossed pursuer Lewis Hamilton's line as he returned to the track, brought the dilemma into focus. “We have to turn a corner somewhere. Things can’t go on like this with the paragraph riders,” warned Vettel. Raikkönen: “We drivers already know what a fair duel is” The pilots' wish: Back to the past. “We drivers already know what a fair duel is and what you can accept,” said veteran Kimi Räikkönen, at 39 the age leader in the driver field. The current Formula 1 vintage is reinforced by a striking number of ancestors. Former champions such as Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Mika Häkkinen and Jacques Villeneuve recently campaigned for the rules to be relaxed and referred to previous practice. Raikkonen described it as “more freedom in a clever way”.

Tough duels at the limit, racing action full of emotions – that should definitely be in the spirit of the Grand Prix marketers. The fact that, after a gray area maneuver like in Canada, the decision about the race winner is made in the sports commissioner's office and the first one at the finish is not the winner can hardly be understood as advertising for the sport. “For the people sitting at the track or watching TV, it’s just stupid, it looks like shit,” said Vettel. Verstappen defends the judges The most thankless role is played by the judges, who are caught in the strict rules. “Sometimes they don’t want to give a penalty, but they have to,” said Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. The 21-year-old Dutchman had to spend a day with the Formula E race stewards in Marrakesh in January as punishment for pushing his Formula 1 rival Esteban Ocon after a race. “It’s not fair to say they’re doing a bad job,” Verstappen said of the stewards.

But how quickly will Formula 1 find its way out of the dilemma? Changing the rules in the middle of the season seems rather difficult. And who will then define the new boundaries between healthy toughness and dangerous arrogance?

At the Circuit Paul Ricard, the supposedly best racing drivers in the world will definitely have to live with the petty list of punishments at the Grand Prix on Sunday (15.10:XNUMX p.m.). Last year, the sports judges needed the rule book shortly after the start: Sebastian Vettel received a five-second penalty for a rear-end collision.

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“Burn the papers”: Formula 1 is groaning under the rules

Since the controversy surrounding Sebastian Vettel's penalty from Canada, Formula 1 has felt like it was on the wrong track. The tight set of rules bothers many drivers and fans. Her wish: Back to the past.

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