Johnny Herbert Calls for Change as F1 Drivers Face Criticism for Rule Abuses
Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has expressed his dissatisfaction with the behavior of drivers during the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Controversy emerged after both Charles Leclerc from Ferrari and Max Verstappen of Red Bull made maneuvers that some deemed as rule violations, yet were not penalized.
Opening Lap Controversy at the Mexico City Grand Prix
In the race held on Sunday, the initial lap featured heated exchanges among top competitors. Leclerc and Verstappen both took shortcuts by driving off-track but returned to their positions without adsorbing penalties. Leclerc emerged in first place, while Verstappen was in third.
This contrasted sharply with the situation of Lewis Hamilton, who received a 10-second penalty on Lap 7 when he left the track during a confrontation with Verstappen at Turn 4. Herbert highlighted this inconsistency as a primary issue within F1 regulations.
Critique of FIA Steward Decisions
- Herbert criticized the FIA for often overlooking infractions during the opening lap.
- He argued that cold tires should not excuse drivers from accountability.
- According to Herbert, rules should apply uniformly, regardless of track conditions.
Herbert emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of rules. “The biggest problem for me is that anything that tends to happen on the first corner, the first lap, they tend to turn a blind eye,” he remarked. He believes this leads to a “free for all” mentality among drivers, allowing them to exploit the rules.
Call for Reforms
Herbert advocates for reforms to ensure that all competitors are subject to penalties for gaining an advantage, regardless of track conditions. “We’re talking about the very best Formula 1 drivers in the world,” he stated. He feels that judges should be more rigorous even in the challenging conditions of a race’s opening laps.
In summary, Johnny Herbert’s feedback challenges the current approach to rule enforcement in Formula 1, particularly during the critical opening stages of races. He calls for changes that could improve fairness and maintain the integrity of the sport.
