Brundle Calls for Overhaul of F1 Rules Amid Norris Penalty Controversy: A Call for Clarity and Consistency

Martin Brundle calls for significant changes to F1's racing regulations following Lando Norris's penalty. "The rules for drivers require major adjustments and need to be much more straightforward."

Veteran Formula 1 commentator Martin Brundle believes that the rules governing driving in the sport require significant adjustments after the intense competition between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix.

Norris received a contentious five-second penalty for going off the track at Turn 12 and gaining an advantage during his battle with Verstappen.

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The McLaren racer was seen passing another car off the track after Verstappen forced him to the outside.

In this case, Verstappen also veered off the track. However, as the driver being defended, he avoided a penalty because he was the first to reach the apex.

The event has sparked an extended discussion about the enforcement of regulations and overall management.

In his column for Sky Sports F1 after the race, Brundle criticized the condition of contemporary F1 tracks and urged for modifications to the regulations to make them more straightforward.

He explained that during the Austrian Grand Prix, it was evident that a straightforward gravel strip and other track elements could effectively discourage drivers from leaving the designated course, eliminating the need for high curbs that could perilously send cars airborne.

Replacing and returning this for use in motorcycle racing is costly and ineffective, but in the broader context of Formula 1, it’s not a significant expense.

"The design of the race tracks and the areas where cars can veer off contribute to the issues, while the increasingly intricate driving regulations struggle to address the resulting diverse challenges. It's not fair to hold the referees solely responsible, as that won't fix the situation. A significant revision and simplification of the driving rules are necessary."

Norris' penalty faced significant scrutiny, but it wasn't the only one under intense examination.

At the same corner, George Russell received a five-second penalty for his maneuver involving Valtteri Bottas.

Russell received a penalty despite trying to leave Bottas enough space during the turn, which is an effort Verstappen did not make when he was up against Norris.

This inconsistency was a source of frustration for Brundle.

He expressed confusion about why the previous 'let them race' strategy, which had been fairly effective, was no longer being used.

In my view, if a driver overtakes another on the inside of a turn without losing control, skidding, or leaving the track limits, they have successfully claimed the corner. This allows them to continue along the standard racing path through the exit. It then becomes the responsibility of the overtaken driver to concede the position rather than accelerating and risk veering off course.

In Austin, George Russell received what many considered an unfair penalty due to the strict enforcement of the rules. This has also happened to other drivers. Given that Russell was penalized for forcing Valtteri Bottas off the track, isn't it only fair that Verstappen should face a penalty as well for doing the same to Norris at the identical corner?

Here's another inquiry: after Norris overtook Verstappen on the outside before reaching turn 12, when Verstappen maneuvered to reclaim his position on the inside, who was actually executing the overtaking maneuver at the corner's apex—Verstappen or Norris? The situation is even more complex than it appears.

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