Some Formula One drivers are pissed off with the game’s penalty factors system after stricter guidelines for this season have put them prone to incomes a race ban.
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly is barely two factors in need of getting a ban and stated Thursday that places him in a tricky place going into this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Gasly tops the listing with 10 penalty factors and a driver has to take a seat out a race if he earns 12 factors in a 12-month span.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s a very disagreeable scenario and fairly delicate. In some methods a bit embarrassing to be standing able the place I could possibly be banned for a race after the season I’ve executed,” Gasly stated.
Two weeks in the past on the Mexican Grand Prix, Gasly was penalized for leaving the observe throughout a battle with Lance Stroll of Aston Martin. His last race for AlphaTauri would be the season-ender in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 20 earlier than he joins Alpine subsequent season.
Gasly known as on F1 to ease the laws, an opinion that was supported by a number of different drivers.
“The way that the regulation is written at the moment is quite strict for the drivers, with quite harsh penalties, even though not all are related to dangerous driving,” Gasly said. “There have been loads of discussions to attempt to discover a resolution.”
The 26-year-old driver additionally stated he might be further cautious at Interlagos to “keep away from ending up in a foolish scenario” the place he’s banned.
“That can be horrible for me and positively not the best way that I’ve seen the game rising up. I don’t assume that’s the right strategy,” stated Gasly, who’s within the 14th place within the drivers’ championship with 23 factors.
The penalty factors system was launched in F1 firstly of the 2014 season, however no driver has but collected the 12 factors wanted for a ban.
This yr, although, stewards have utilized the foundations extra strictly than after they had been first launched. In addition, the variety of races has elevated from 19 in 2014 to 22 within the present season.
Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas stated, “There have been good discussions” with the FIA concerning the penalties.
“I don’t think Pierre deserves to be in that kind of situation. On the edge,” said Bottas, who is in 10th place in the drivers’ championship with 47 points. “That is the rule now, however the principle factor is how we act with that sooner or later.”
Williams’ Alexander Albon stated a few of the punishments he acquired this season had been truthful, however not all. He has picked up seven penalty factors since March.
“We need to do something about it,” Albon said. “And I do perceive you must punish drivers in the event that they do harmful issues.”
Gasly, Albon and Bottas stated at their joint news convention that drivers and racing’s governing physique FIA will speak concerning the problem this weekend in Sao Paulo.
“So we are discussing it and I think there is going to be a change. But we’ve already got the points on our license, so what happens then?” Albon asked. “Even if we do make steps ahead into subsequent yr, do the factors we now have obtained from earlier races keep on?”
Haas driver Mick Schumacher, who solely has one penalty level within the season, is among the few to not criticize the present system.
“I don’t thoughts it,” stated the 23-year-old son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher.
The German driver, at the moment in sixteenth place within the championship with 12 factors, is but to safe a seat within the collection subsequent yr.
