Janice R. Andrews
George Russell of Mercedes has disclosed that an overwhelming majority of Formula 1 drivers—”19 out of 20″—favor immediate modifications to racing regulations. Speaking as a GPDA director, Russell emphasized the urgency for clearer and more stringent rules, particularly following recent controversial incidents at the United States Grand Prix between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
During the Mexico Grand Prix weekend, Russell expressed satisfaction with recent penalty decisions, specifically referencing Verstappen’s 20-second penalty for two separate racing incidents. He stressed that most drivers prefer implementing rule changes now rather than waiting until 2025.
“The stewards understand what needs to be adjusted,” Russell stated in Mexico, highlighting the near-unanimous driver support for prompt regulatory updates. “From our perspective… 19 of 20 drivers agreed that if something’s wrong, we should fix it immediately. I’m pleased these incidents resulted in penalties, and I expect similar moves we’ve seen recently won’t be tolerated in Brazil.”
Russell’s advocacy focuses on achieving more consistent stewarding decisions and reducing ambiguous rulings. However, he acknowledged that despite widespread support, implementing changes requires approval through various F1 committees. “You’d think it would be straightforward with everyone in agreement, but it often proves more complex than necessary,” he remarked.
To illustrate proper racing conduct, Russell pointed to his intense but fair battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton, which lasted until lap 66. He contrasted this with the Verstappen-Norris incident, which he deemed outside acceptable racing behavior.
Reflecting on Verstappen’s aggressive move against Norris at Turn 7 in the US Grand Prix, Russell drew parallels to a similar incident between Verstappen and Hamilton at the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix. “We’re witnessing maneuvers that have crossed into unfair territory,” he observed. “The recent incident reminds me of Brazil [2021]—we haven’t seen anything like it since then.”
The strong consensus among drivers for immediate rule revisions demonstrates their unified commitment to enhancing F1’s competitive integrity. As pressure mounts for more consistent penalties and clearer racing guidelines, Russell and his fellow drivers are looking to the FIA to swiftly implement changes that will preserve F1’s competitive spirit while ensuring fairness for all participants.
