Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has expressed his opinion on the controversial race guidelines in Formula 1, suggesting a change in the way decisions are made on the track. Sainz believes that these guidelines could be dispensed with, applying the same logic used by some former F1 drivers turned television analysts. These guidelines, agreed upon by the drivers and the FIA at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, have generated controversy due to the decisions made by the stewards, who have strictly applied the rules in racing incidents. Sainz was the subject of one of these decisions at the Dutch Grand Prix, although his team managed to revoke the penalty. Another example was the controversial penalty to Oscar Piastri for a crash with Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the Brazilian Grand Prix, a decision that could influence this year’s championship. According to Sainz, more freedom should be given to the stewards, who, with their experience, could make more accurate decisions about race incidents. The driver cited Karun Chandhok, Anthony Davidson, and Jolyon Palmer as examples of former drivers capable of reaching correct conclusions without the need for strict guidelines.
Sainz, director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), believes that the current guidelines, which are based on the position of the overtaking car with respect to the defending car, are not applicable to all situations. For Sainz, these guidelines have generated more problems than solutions. Sainz concluded that the implementation of these guidelines has not been entirely successful, as they have limited the possibility of considering racing incidents as such, as they are always subject to the established rules.My ideal future is without guidelines and with people who can judge these incidents as well as these three people I just mentioned do after the races.
Carlos Sainz
