Jumping from F3/F2 to an increasingly complex Formula 1 in terms of regulations is certainly no easy feat. However, Rui Marques, appointed as the new FIA race director in place of Niels Wittich on the eve of the Las Vegas GP, will likely remember the weekend in Qatar for a long time due to the cascade of penalties that ensued.
The FIA show in Qatar
After an almost flawless debut in Las Vegas, the Portuguese official immediately got his first taste of what it means to bring order to a race direction that, even yesterday, proved unworthy of the spectacle offered on the track.
No one disputes the penalties or the firm approach taken by the new race director, but what raises eyebrows among drivers and insiders alike is the lack of a consistent and uniform standard of judgment. It seems as if every Grand Prix represents a continuous lottery, where similar incidents risk being (and often are) penalized in a completely different manner from the previous race.
However, it is clear that changing the race director with three races remaining could only lead to this result. While Niels Wittich (and before him Freitas and Masi) was often criticized for being too lenient in his decisions, today there are cries of outrage over penalties deemed too harsh and overly inflated.
Let’s review the complete list of penalties issued during a dramatic Qatar GP, the penultimate round of a constructors’ championship that will be decided only in the Abu Dhabi finale and may have been influenced by the decisions made by the race direction.
Lewis Hamilton – 5 seconds + drive through
The seven-time world champion was penalized with five seconds for a false start, despite his immediate attempt to correct the mistake by regaining control of the clutch and halting the wheelspin.
Additionally, the Briton, racing in his final event for Mercedes, was handed a drive-through penalty for exceeding the speed limit when entering the pit lane.
Lando Norris – 10-second stop & go + 3 license points
The McLaren driver admitted after the race that he failed to respect double yellow flags displayed on lap 30, earning a penalty many considered excessive, though consistent with previous sanctions for similar infractions. Despite this, Lando managed to finish in the points, setting the fastest lap and securing two valuable points in the constructors’ standings.
Lance Stroll – 10 seconds + 2 license points
In yet another uneventful Sunday, the Aston Martin owner’s son was handed a 10-second penalty for colliding with Alexander Albon at the start in turn 4. The stewards also added two points to his super license.
Liam Lawson – 10 seconds + 2 license points
The same penalty applied to the likely future Red Bull driver, who paid for his collision with Valtteri Bottas in turn 1 with a 10-second penalty and two license points.
Alexander Albon – 10 seconds + 2 license points
The Williams driver received the same penalty for hitting Kevin Magnussen’s Haas in turn 1.
George Russell – 5 seconds + 1 license point
The Mercedes driver failed to maintain a 10-car-length gap under the Safety Car, though the five-second penalty he received at the end of the race did not affect his final position.
Source: f1ingenerale
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