As the Qatar Grand Prix weekend unfolded with its own share of staffing upheaval, the FIA’s ongoing efforts to revise Formula 1’s racing rules garnered more positive attention. Following a significant meeting between drivers and officials, many drivers expressed satisfaction with the discussions surrounding the future of the sport’s guidelines.
Lewis Hamilton described the meeting as the “best” he had attended, noting the positive atmosphere and fruitful dialogue. However, while drivers appreciated the FIA’s engagement on racing regulations, they remain frustrated by the unexplained changes and personnel departures at the governing body. George Russell, as the current director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, voiced his concerns, citing the recent dismissals of key FIA figures, including F2 race director Janette Tan and senior steward Tim Mayer.
Nevertheless, the primary focus of the meeting was the FIA’s review of the ‘Driving Standards Guidelines,’ following controversial racing incidents involving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Austin and Mexico City Grands Prix. The FIA had promised to address these concerns after the Mexican GP, and it was clear from the meeting that discussions were ongoing about changes to the guidelines.
While the drivers were tight-lipped about the specifics, particularly regarding tactics that could influence future races, Russell did provide some insight into the proposed changes. He indicated that the regulation requiring the inside driver to leave room for the outside driver at the apex is set to be removed. “I think that’s going to be getting binned off,” he stated, suggesting that the change could be implemented as early as the upcoming race weekend.
However, the more significant issue—the controversial defending tactics used by Verstappen—remains unresolved. Verstappen’s aggressive defending at the 2024 races, particularly against Norris in Austin and Mexico, sparked the debate about whether a driver should be penalized for forcing an opponent off the track during an overtake. The existing guidelines leave room for ambiguity, allowing a driver to “race” for position at the apex of a corner without necessarily granting space to their opponent on the outside. This has led to contentious racing, as witnessed in the Verstappen-Norris clash at Turn 12 in Austin.
Despite discussions, it seems the proposed changes will only address a narrow aspect of the rules, focusing primarily on inside-line overtaking. This leaves open the possibility that Verstappen-style defending—where the defending driver makes it appear as though they have been forced off the track—may remain technically legal, potentially causing similar incidents in the future.
As the FIA continues to review the guidelines, the hope is that clearer and fairer rules will emerge. Russell expressed hope that the changes would be implemented swiftly, ideally before the conclusion of the 2024 season. However, as of the meeting in Qatar, it was unclear whether this timeline would be met.
The FIA is expected to release an official statement on Friday, detailing the results of the meeting and any agreed-upon changes. While drivers are generally positive about the changes, any future controversy over racing incidents will test whether these revisions have truly addressed the underlying issues in F1 racing. If accepted, the drivers may find it difficult to question the updated rules when future flashpoints inevitably arise.
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