FIA and inconsistent penalties, more accusations from George Russell: “Qualified personnel needed”. George Russell on the method by which penalties are applied to F1 drivers.

The topic of the FIA and its often inconsistent penalties continues to raise debate. After the Lando Norris vs. Max Verstappen case in Austin and then in Mexico City, several drivers have shared their opinions on the method by which penalties are applied.

This time, George Russell is proposing a significant change. The Mercedes driver believes it’s time for the FIA to hire professional race stewards: only in this way will penalties align with the regulations and not with circumstances.

George Russell, who heads the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, stated the need for a stable group of stewards for each race.

“From a personal standpoint, I don’t believe [the regulations] need to be torn up. They just need a few small adjustments or a minor addition. It’s all pretty clear,” he explained to the media on the eve of the Brazilian GP.

“Guidelines need to be in place, but one must also remember what it’s about. There’s no written regulation, and it’s up to the stewards to make the best judgment,” he continued.

“When it comes to interpretation and consistency, one could argue that if you had the same stewards week after week, the consistency would be better. They would interpret things the same way. This way, drivers understand exactly what is expected in a given circumstance.”

Emphasizing that he is not openly accusing the FIA and its methods of judging penalties, George Russell pointed out how “this sport needs qualified full-time personnel who earn a real salary.”

Every racing incident is different, but the Brit clarified that the guidelines “need further clarification,” which, however, “is only highlighted when their formulation is put to the test.”

Number 63 is aware that things are changing in FIA regulations and in the application of penalties. “As with car safety. You need a bad accident to make real progress. The same with driving rules. Something needs to happen, decisions need to be wrong or things need to be pushed beyond the limit before realizing that a change is necessary.” – the British driver concluded, ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend in Interlagos.