Are the FIA overregulating drivers in Formula One?

In a move instigated by the drivers, FIA race director Charlie Whiting, issued a note to the teams, before qualifying at the US Grand Prix, regarding driving standards.

The note stated: “Article 27.5 of the Sporting Regulations states that no car may be driven in a manner which could be potentially dangerous to other drivers, furthermore, Article 27.8 prohibits any manoeuvre liable to hinder other drivers, such as…any abnormal change of direction.

“With this in mind, and with the exception of any move permitted by Article 27.6, any change of direction under braking which results in another driver having to take evasive action will be considered abnormal and hence potentially dangerous to other drivers. Any such move will be reported to the stewards.”

If I were to make my own interpretation on this matter, it comes across that now any driver about to be overtaken cannot change their line once the car behind has chosen the direction of said attempted overtake.

Now, while we all know the FIA are always on the lookout improve safety standards in Formula One in any regard; does this amendment to the sporting regulations now pigeonhole the drivers further in how they must conduct themselves on circuit?

It follows a move by the other drivers, who were complaining about how Max Verstappen goes about his defensive driving. I now fear that the more we continue to define the manner in which the drivers, who are supposed to be regarded as the best in the world, go racing, we further dilute one of the sport’s attractive natures.

In 1989, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost came to blows at the Casio chicane, Senna tried to aggressively throw a move down the inside but when Prost defended in a similar fashion it caused a collision between the two McLaren drivers.

Much was said about the move at the time and still to this day is debated, but while the stewards disqualified Senna from the race, it was for cutting the chicane once the marshals got him going again and not the move itself against Prost that was the reason.

Many manoeuvres in the past have often been criticised and yet applauded in the same regard, Michael Schumacher defending from Mika Hakkinen at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix was one such time.

Everytime Hakkinen would get close heading into Les Combes, Schumacher would be shutting the door in a forceful manner, leaving just millimetres between the two champions.

However, Hakkinen used his wit and skill to force a move in the dying laps by using BAR’s Ricardo Zonta as a buffer to pass Schumacher in what is regarded as one of the best overtakes in Formula One history.

To watch drivers go wheel to wheel, fight it out to the bitter end is what we all go to the circuits and tune into our television’s to watch. Is the FIA robbing the fans of possible dogfights on the track in the future?

Should the drivers themselves have the right to deal with these issues themselves out on the track and perhaps up their own game against some of the younger drivers on the grid? Or do they have a point and a right to complain to race direction?

Now while I do agree that rash moves under braking often do result in collisions that could have easily have been avoided, Verstappen is only guilty of pushing the boundaries, like so many of the hard chargers before him.

Many comments from fans have shown a divide on the topic with some saying that Verstappen has been too reckless and will cause an accident, while some have been saying that the teenager has been firm but fair and that perhaps his demeanour is a breath of fresh air for the sport.

One thing for certain is that he is the focus of attention amongst the paddock, his speed, tenacity and stubbornness has now led his antics to be somewhat curtailed, he’ll have to find other ways to now on how to shape and sharpen his defensive skills to fend off his attackers.

Formula One is meant to be regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, a place where the best race drivers in the world race the fastest prototype racing cars in the world. Yet somehow more and more that ideology is being muddied in one way or another.

Battles between the drivers on the circuit must be allowed to be hard fought, intense and right on the limit. The sport is evermore becoming over-regulated by the FIA and, with this move, overtakes in the future could simply not happen out of fear of punishment from the stewards.

Is that really what we all want to see from a sport we all dearly love? Absolutely not.