Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Andrea Stella, the head of McLaren Formula 1, believes that Kevin Magnussen’s driving in the sprint race of the Miami Grand Prix deserved a ban instead of individual time penalties. The stewards also suggested that the approach to penalties in F1 may need to be changed.
Magnussen admitted to using “silly tactics” to obstruct Lewis Hamilton in the Miami sprint race, so that his teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who was ahead on track, could build a large enough lead to secure two valuable points in seventh place in the championship.
The stewards penalized Magnussen on four occasions during his battle with Hamilton. Three penalties were for going off track and gaining an advantage, each resulting in a 10-second penalty. He also received an additional penalty of five seconds for going off track without a valid reason.
The third 10-second penalty for Magnussen also came with three penalty points on his license, as the stewards believed this deserved more than just a time penalty. However, no further action was taken for the alleged unsporting behavior.
Before the verdict was announced, McLaren team boss Stella expressed his strong belief that the FIA needs to take action against this type of driving. He suggested that a race ban would be appropriate, followed by monitoring of the offending driver to ensure they have learned their lesson.
“For me, this case is relatively simple,” said Stella. “We have a situation where one competitor intentionally caused damage to another competitor. This behavior occurred within the same race and was repeated throughout the season. How can penalties be cumulative? They should increase exponentially. Perhaps the driver needs to take a weekend off to reflect on their sportsmanship and then return. Only if they show loyalty, fairness, and good sportsmanship towards their fellow competitors should they be allowed to continue in this business. It is completely unacceptable.”
This issue is particularly sensitive for Stella, as her driver Lando Norris received a penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior last year at the Canadian Grand Prix. Magnussen’s penalties, which included penalty points on his license, now bring him closer to an automatic race ban as he has accumulated eight points within a 12-month period. Stella believes that the penalty system needs to be adjusted to discourage repeat offenses.
Stella suggested that the FIA should review the penalty system and propose changes to the advisory sports committee. The stewards also expressed their desire for this to happen, stating that penalties for repeated infractions may need to be increased to discourage similar scenarios in the future.
During the stewards’ investigation, Magnussen claimed he believed he had the right to compete with Hamilton the way he did. He was willing to accept standard penalties for any infractions that occurred. Magnussen also argued that building an advantage for Hulkenberg and helping his teammate was within the rules and not unsportsmanlike.
The stewards agreed with Magnussen’s argument, stating that the standard for unsportsmanlike behavior should be high and that there was no clear evidence of intent to behave unsportingly. However, they disagreed with the way Magnussen repeatedly went off track.
Magnussen expressed his desire for greater clarity on what is allowed in such situations and suggested that the FIA should have the power to impose position changes instead of applying time penalties. This suggestion was supported by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who believe that the FIA should have the ability to intervene and force drivers to give up positions, if necessary.
Overall, there is a consensus among McLaren and its drivers that the penalty system in F1 needs to be reviewed and adjusted to discourage unsportsmanlike behavior and repeat offenses.
© 2024
Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen achieved an impressive victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday. Verstappen, who started from pole position, dominated the race from the beginning and crossed the finish line in first place.
The race was full of excitement, with several overtakes and fierce battles between the drivers. Verstappen showed his skill and determination in holding off the pressure from his rivals and maintaining the lead throughout the race.
With this victory, Verstappen is getting closer to championship leader Lewis Hamilton. With only a few races left in this season, the battle for the title is becoming increasingly intense.
After the race, Verstappen expressed his happiness with the result and thanked his team for their excellent work. He also praised his rivals for the intense competition and promised to keep fighting until the end for the championship.
The next race will be the Mexican Grand Prix, which will take place next weekend. It will be interesting to see if Verstappen can maintain his momentum and continue to challenge Hamilton for the title.
Stay tuned for more updates on Formula 1 and other sports news. The season is coming to an end and promises many thrills until the final checkered flag.
