Mercedes driver George Russell on Thursday welcomed a move by Formula One’s governing body to publish penalty guidelines ahead of an Austrian Grand Prix where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remains at risk of a race ban.
The FIA said it had decided, in the interests of transparency, to release key documents created to assist stewards in making fair and consistent decisions when applying the rules.
Although the documents have no regulatory value, and stewards make their decisions independently of the FIA based on applicable regulations, the guidelines recommend appropriate penalties for some 100 common infringements.
“Greater transparency within the governance of our sport is an important issue and this is a useful step in that direction,” said Mercedes’ Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA).
“Hopefully it will be beneficial for the sport to give the media and fans a clearer understanding of the rules of engagement when we’re racing on track, and to help them understand how the stewards reach their decisions.”
Russell has been critical of a perceived lack of transparency within the FIA, run by Emirati Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and of the governing body’s failure to engage with drivers.
He has also been involved in several clashes with Red Bull’s four-times world champion Verstappen, who is racing at his team’s home circuit this weekend.
One incident at the Spanish Grand Prix saw Verstappen punished for driving into the Briton’s car and handed three penalty points, taking his tally to 11 in a 12-month period.
Twelve points trigger an automatic race ban and Verstappen will not shed any points until after Austria, when he will go down to nine.
Ben Sulayem pointed out in a statement that stewards performed their jobs voluntarily but their dedication “is all too often met with extreme and wholly unwarranted criticism.
“To demonstrate the rigour with which they pursue their role, we are today publishing the Penalty and Driving Standards Guidelines that assist them with their decisions.
“This will give fans and members of the media a much deeper and more accurate insight into how decisions are made in Formula One,” he added.
The FIA said the latest version of the driving standards guidelines was drafted at the Qatar Grand Prix last November and further refinements would be made in consultation with drivers and teams.
The guidelines list the different ways in which drivers can be handed penalty points up to a maximum of five for ignoring a black flag (disqualification) or black and orange flag (return to pits due to car being in an unsafe condition).
They also advise on the rules for overtaking on the inside and outside of corners and when drivers must give back position if gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track.
