Formula 1 fans are better-placed than ever to scrutinise stewards’ decisions during races following the publication of the current racing guidelines earlier this year.
Over the last four races stewards have ruled on a collision between team mates in one race, penalised an errant backmarker in another and dished out penalty points to one driver in three consecutive rounds. Most notably, at Silverstone one penalty call decided the winner of one race. In Hungary they investigated an unusual incident between long-time rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, but declineddes driver complained to take any action.
Have the stewards interpreted the rules and applied a fitting punishment each time? Review the incidents from the last four rounds below and give your verdict. Find the results of the polls for all the other sporting incidents of note earlier this year via the links below:
Austrian Grand Prix
Antonelli’s first-lap collision with Verstappen
Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s participation in the Austrian Grand Prix came to an end within moments of the start as the Mercedes driver lost control and took his rival out of the race. The stewards held Antonelli responsible and handed him a three-place grid drop for the next round.
Loading …Tsunoda’s collision with Colapinto
While the stewards took no action against Yuki Tsunoda for forcing Lance Stroll off in one incident during the race, his collision with Franco Colapinto at turn four earned him a 10-second time penalty. The stewards ruled that under F1’s Driving Standards Guidelines, Tsunoda had not got far enough alongside Colapinto to have ‘the right to the corner’.
Loading …Colapinto’s incident with Piastri
While Colapinto had his hands full with Tsunoda, he failed to notice Oscar Piastri emerging from the pits behind him. The McLaren driver, fighting his team mate Lando Norris for victory, tried to lap Colapinto at the exit of turn three but the Alpine driver forced him onto the grass. Although the stewards acknowledged it had been difficult for Colapinto to see Piastri, they penalised him five seconds for the incident.
Loading …British Grand Prix
Piastri’s Safety Car incident
The British Grand Prix was the second time this year a penalty swung the fight for victory in a race. Piastri, who won in Jeddah after Max Verstappen was penalised for cutting the first corner at the start, had to serve a 10-second time penalty after the stewards ruled he slowed too abruptly in front of Verstappen on the Hangar straight at the end of a Safety Car period.
The incident drew comparisons with another at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Red Bull tried to provoke a penalty for race winner George Russell after he slowed in front of Verstappen. Piastri disputed the call against him, pointing out Verstappen had no difficulty avoiding him when he slowed at the end of a previous Safety Car period.
However Verstappen did not benefit from Piastri’s penalty as he spun out of contention by the time the McLaren driver served it. Instead Lando Norris took victory from his team mate.
Loading …Tsunoda’s collision with Bearman
Tsunoda collected his third penalty in as many grand prix weekends by knocking Oliver Bearman into a spin while the Haas driver was overtaking him at Silverstone. The stewards noted Bearman was “well ahead” of Tsunoda on his outside as they approached Brooklands corner.
Loading …Bearman and Ocon’s collision
To the dismay of his team, Bearman collided with the other Haas Esteban Ocon later in the same race at the same corner. The pair were pursuing the Williams drivers when the incident happened. Bearman attempted to pull out from behind Ocon, who moved towards the inside of the corner. As Bearman moved onto a wetter part of the track he was unable to avoid tangling with his team mate. The stewards ruled neither driver was largely to blame and chose not to punish either.
Loading …Hungarian Grand Prix
Verstappen and Hamilton’s incident
After an uneventful weekend at Spa the stewards issued two penalties of note in Hungary. They also noted a further incident which they took no action on, involving Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
The two drivers collided at the same race 12 months earlier when they made contact at turn one. On this occasion Verstappen made an unexpected challenge on Hamilton at turn four, from a considerable distance behind, and Hamilton ran wide onto the run-off area, yielding the position. The stewards, considering whether Verstappen had forced his rival off the track, took the unusual step of postponing their decision until after the race. But Hamilton chose not to attend the hearing and the stewards cleared Verstappen.
Loading …Leclerc’s incident with Russell
Having taken pole position and led the early stages of the race, Charles Leclerc was frustrated to come under attack for the final podium position in the closing stages of the race. He squeezed Russell hard as they approached turn one and the Mercedes driver complained his rival had changed his line in the braking zone. The stewards agreed and gave Leclerc a five-second time penalty.
Loading …Sainz’s incident with Gasly
Pierre Gasly had a clean licence until he collected two penalty points for tangling with Carlos Sainz Jnr in Hungary. The stewards ruled Gasly should have left Sainz room on the outside of turn two.
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