A number of System 1 drivers have stated they count on the sequence’ penalty factors system to be reviewed on account of Kevin Magnussen’s one-race ban at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Magnussen picked up the ultimate two penalty factors that triggered the ban for inflicting a collision with Pierre Gasly in Monza, with gentle contact between the pair leading to each drivers run off on the second chicane and proceed within the order they arrived. Magnussen had been making an attempt to overhaul however was penalized after reaching 12 penalty factors throughout the previous 12 months, and his teammate Nico Hulkenberg believes such a ban dangers harming the standard of racing total.
“I didn’t see two penalty factors in that, and a 10-second penalty could be very harsh in my view, and most drivers really feel the identical means about that,” Hulkenberg stated. “I had a case with Fernando [Alonso] within the Austria Dash race the place I attempted to make a transfer into Flip 3, locked up, went extensive and he needed to go off the observe, however that’s racing.
“To overhaul, we now have to go away our consolation zone, and take some dangers after which this type of factor occurs typically. In my case with Fernando, and likewise with [Magnussen and] Pierre, each drivers stated: ‘It’s nothing’ so plainly each time there’s a little little bit of contact, the stewards need to get entangled, they need to have a consequence for it.
“The drivers really feel that it isn’t actually crucial for each contact so possibly the penalty pointers must be reviewed and adjusted as a result of we’d like to have the ability to race and it’s simply tough in any other case.
“Will probably be boring and uninteresting as we are able to’t race anymore — we’ll simply get penalized on a regular basis. However I’m certain it can come up within the drivers’ assembly, and there can be talks with [race director] Niels Wittich.”
Hulkenberg’s perspective was largely shared by Alex Albon, though the Williams driver felt Magnussen had exploited the principles at earlier factors within the season and was deserving of some stronger punishments on different events.
“I don’t assume anybody’s an actual fan of it,” Albon stated. “Punishment within the race itself needs to be what’s carried out. If I look again on the incidents which Kevin created in a few races, these races he ought to have been penalized way more than he was. That set a precedent and he saved repeating them. It’s obtained slightly bit messy.
“There’s been a pair which have been harmful, however a few of them haven’t been. So it appears slightly bit odd. It even appears odd that it resets straight after your one-race ban after which you might be on a clear slate once more. So I don’t fairly perceive it.
“We’ve spoken about it in drivers’ briefings. Everybody’s beneath an understanding that we’ve simply obtained to shuffle the system round slightly bit. It must be slightly extra forgiving round what constitutes penalty factors. If it’s carried out proper it may be OK to have. I feel the entire system goes to get reworded. A few of will probably be addressed for subsequent yr.”
Yuki Tsunoda advised the edge must be elevated given the variety of races that are actually happening over a 12-month interval.
“I used to be in an identical scenario and virtually obtained banned two years in the past,” Tsunoda stated. “The penalty factors didn’t appear to be modified over the past 10 years, since they had been launched. Now, it feels just like the penalty factors ought to get slightly bit extra compliant — it appears form of strict for twenty-four races. However on the similar time everyone seems to be in the identical place, so we now have to cope with it.”
As a lot as Magnussen’s transfer on Gasly has been defended as unfit of triggering a ban by most drivers, George Russell says there must be a line drawn someplace for repeat offenses, and that Magnussen had a number of different incidents that would not be allowed to reoccur.
“It’s a dialog which has been had in earlier years as drivers sail near the wind,” Russell stated. “Nobody has been banned in 12 years so, you might argue, had been the penalty factors harsh sufficient?
“His penalty factors in Monza had been harsh however you might argue that among the others weren’t harsh sufficient. Additionally, we have to set a precedent for the junior sequence. You shouldn’t be capable to get away with harmful or erratic driving. In some unspecified time in the future, you want to be punished for it.”
