Dopo un Mexican GP which saw Max Verstappen receive a 20-second penalty, the debate over borderline maneuvers has reignited. The protagonists once again are Verstappen and Lando Norris, already rivals in Austin, where the penalties were inflicted on the McLaren driver. This time, however, race direction hit the Dutchman hard, setting a precedent that could change the rules of the game. And it was none other than Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, who took the floor to comment on the implications of the Verstappen-Norris episode in Mexico.
While Hamilton and Russell, out of the fight at the top, watched the skirmishes on the track without being able to catch up with the leading group, Wolff took the opportunity to reflect on what this new approach from the stewards means for the future of Formula 1.
Wolff: “Clear message: pushing out is no longer acceptable”
Wolff explained that, for those with direct experience on the track, the intentions behind certain maneuvers are immediately evident: “Drivers know what happens when you brake late to drag an opponent off the track,” he commented. “From the early days in karting, everyone knows that you can’t survive on the outside unless you’re in front.”
According to Wolff, the FIA's double intervention has sent a clear message and is creating a new standard.: “If you can get away with it, that becomes the new limit. Now, however, cI think the FIA has set a precedent. From now on, you are expected to leave space outside if the other car is at the same height.” A move that, according to Wolff, could bring greater balance to the duels.
A precedent that changes the races
For Wolff, the Verstappen-Norris episode in Mexico will not be an isolated one: “The FIA has decided that it no longer wants to see drivers pushing each other off the track,” he explained. “This is going to be the new standard. Now, everyone knows that if they do that, they risk a five- or ten-second penalty.”
Looking back, Wolff recalled the intense duels between Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021. “At the time, some stewards had a different opinion and, by not punishing certain maneuvers, they legitimized a certain type of driving. Today it is clear that the rules must be respected, and it is right that all drivers use the margins allowed, but without exceeding that limit,” he concluded.
Between precious points and new strategies
The double confrontation between Norris and Verstappen risks leaving its mark, especially in such a tight season, where every point is worth gold, both for the drivers' and constructors' titles. The double penalty has in fact heavily affected Verstappen's race, relegating him to sixth position, while Norris finished second, bringing McLaren ever closer to the constructors' title.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
