As Formula 1 takes to the track this weekend with the British Grand Prix, with FP1 scheduled for 13.30pm, we continue to think about the future. The 2024 calendar was published this week, but the FIA is still working on thinking to a new rule to be adopted for drivers who cause a red flag during qualifying, causing the session to stop.
The FIA reflects
The topic was the center of discussion during the F1 governance meeting held on Wednesday. One of the elements that has raised doubts the most, according to what Roberto Chinchero says on Motorsport.com, concerns the Bottas case. Last week, during the qualifying of the Austrian GP, the driver ofAlfa Romeo he had a spin with his car, remaining stuck on the track, causing the red flag. Returning to the pits, the Biscione team engineers allowed the Finn to return to the track and to qualify for the Q2 round.
Drivers punished like in IndyCar?
One of the highly concrete hypotheses is to take it as a reference point the IndyCar. In American competition, in fact, when a driver causes a red flag - above all causing the conclusion of the session - as well as receiving the cancellation of his two best times means he will no longer be able to return to the track. The goal of FIA is to avoid possible "silly" mistakes on the part of the drivers who, with a "tactical" red flag, would be able to bring home a good placing on the starting grid of the Sunday Grand Prix.
If this rule is confirmed, it will certainly not be easy for the drivers who during the qualifying sessions - especially in the last attempt in Q3 - are used to always giving their all to try to bring out the full potential of the car, often risking taking it to the limit and losing it. The case of can undoubtedly be considered a precedent Leclerc in Miami, when the Monegasque took his car to the limit by hitting the wall, preventing - obviously involuntarily - Verstappen from finishing his last attempt in Q3.
Waiting for a decision
An official decision has not yet been reached, after all there are still other issues to discuss, such as the Bottas case, who was able to get back on track independently. We work and think at the FIA, because a hypothetical modification could really change the game, even during qualifying.
SOURCE: Motorsport.com Italy
