A number of Formulation 1 drivers have mentioned they count on the collection’ penalty factors system to be reviewed on account of Kevin Magnussen’s one-race ban at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Magnussen picked up the ultimate two penalty factors that triggered the ban for inflicting a collision with Pierre Gasly in Monza, with mild contact between the pair leading to each drivers run off on the second chicane and proceed within the order they arrived. Magnussen had been making an attempt to overhaul however was penalized after reaching 12 penalty factors inside the previous 12 months, and his teammate Nico Hulkenberg believes such a ban dangers harming the standard of racing general.
“I didn’t see two penalty factors in that, and a 10-second penalty could be very harsh for my part, and most drivers really feel the identical means about that,” Hulkenberg mentioned. “I had a case with Fernando [Alonso] within the Austria Dash race the place I attempted to make a transfer into Flip 3, locked up, went vast and he needed to go off the monitor, however that’s racing.
“To overhaul, now we have to go away our consolation zone, and take some dangers after which this type of factor occurs generally. In my case with Fernando, and likewise with [Magnussen and] Pierre, each drivers mentioned: ‘It’s nothing’ so it appears that evidently each time there’s a little little bit of contact, the stewards need to become involved, they need to have a consequence for it.
“The drivers really feel that it isn’t actually essential for each contact so perhaps the penalty tips should be reviewed and altered as a result of we want to have the ability to race and it’s simply tough in any other case.
“Will probably be boring and boring as we will’t race anymore — we’ll simply get penalized on a regular basis. However I’m positive it can come up within the drivers’ assembly, and there will probably be talks with [race director] Niels Wittich.”
Hulkenberg’s viewpoint was largely shared by Alex Albon, though the Williams driver felt Magnussen had exploited the foundations at earlier factors within the season and was deserving of some stronger punishments on different events.
“I don’t assume anybody’s an actual fan of it,” Albon mentioned. “Punishment within the race itself must be what’s achieved. If I look again on the incidents which Kevin created in a few races, these races he ought to have been penalized way more than he was. That set a precedent and he saved repeating them. It’s received a little bit bit messy.
“There’s been a pair which were harmful, however a few of them haven’t been. So it appears a little bit bit odd. It even appears odd that it resets straight after your one-race ban after which you’re on a clear slate once more. So I don’t fairly perceive it.
“We now have spoken about it in drivers’ briefings. Everybody’s below an understanding that we’ve simply received to shuffle the system round a little bit bit. It must be a little bit extra forgiving round what constitutes penalty factors. If it’s achieved proper it may be OK to have. I believe the entire system goes to get reworded. A few of it is going to be addressed for subsequent yr.”
Yuki Tsunoda recommended the edge must be elevated given the variety of races that at the moment are happening over a 12-month interval.
“I used to be in the same scenario and virtually received banned two years in the past,” Tsunoda mentioned. “The penalty factors didn’t appear to be modified over the past 10 years, since they have been launched. Now, it feels just like the penalty factors ought to get a little bit bit extra compliant — it appears type of strict for twenty-four races. However on the similar time everyone seems to be in the identical place, so now we have to cope with it.”
As a lot as Magnussen’s transfer on Gasly has been defended as undeserving of triggering a ban by most drivers, George Russell says there must be a line drawn someplace for repeat offenses, and that Magnussen had a number of different incidents that would not be allowed to reoccur.
“It’s a dialog which has been had in earlier years as drivers sail near the wind,” Russell mentioned. “Nobody has been banned in 12 years so, you can argue, have been the penalty factors harsh sufficient?
“His penalty factors in Monza have been harsh however you can argue that a number of the others weren’t harsh sufficient. Additionally, we have to set a precedent for the junior collection. You shouldn’t be capable of get away with harmful or erratic driving. Sooner or later, you could be punished for it.”
