Unexpected turning point in the definition of Formula 1: the stern warning for Verstappen and Hamilton

The definition of the championship Formula 1 and the long pulse of 22 dates will end this weekend at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, or Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis hamilton (Mercedes) tied for the final chapter: a race full of tension is expected this Sunday. Due to the history of touches and other maneuvers that have sparked controversy this year, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has given them a strong warning.

This Thursday in preview of the activity on the Yas Marina circuit, headquarters of the GP which renewed its contract until 2030 with the category, the F1 race director, Michael masi, with the approval of the FIA, he wanted to recall the most salient articles of the International Sporting Code (CDI).

In the letter delivered by Masi, he mentions four articles of the CDI referring to the behavior of team members, their conduct, the rider’s responsibility and the extent of the penalties..

“The Competitor will be responsible for all acts or omissions of any person who participates or provides a service in connection with a competition or a championship on his behalf, including in particular his employees, direct or indirect, his pilots, mechanics, consultants, service providers or passengers, as well as any person to whom the competitor has authorized access to the reserved spaces ”, specifies article 9.15.1.

He insisted on article 12.2.1 on breaches of the rules which considers as fault “any violation of the principles of fairness in competition, any unsportsmanlike behavior or attempt to influence the result of a competition in a manner contrary to sports ethics ”.

While article 12.4.5 quoted in the letter establishes that, “for all FIA Championships, Cups, Challenges, Trophies or Series, the stewards may also decide to impose the following sanctions: suspension for one or more competitions, withdrawal of points in the Championship, the Cup, the Challenge, the Trophy or the Series”.

Regarding the withdrawal of points, reference is made to article 12.4.5.a, which states that “they must not be withdrawn separately from the drivers and the teams, except in exceptional circumstances”.

It should be remembered that if the two do not add up points, before equality it will be broken by number of victories and Verstappen has 9 against 8 Hamilton.

The last time a driver was severely penalized for a serious breach in a championship definition was in 1997, when the German Michael schumacher (Ferrari) deliberately collided with the Canadian Jacques Villeneuve (Williams), who finally took the scepter, during the European Grand Prix. For this offense, Schumi was excluded from the championship, he lost all the points obtained, although the races won that year (five) respected him.

Verstappen and Hamilton have always known what the rules looked like, but now the entity overseeing the activity has promoted a reminder as a strong warning of what can happen before any maneuver outside the law.

Remember that this is for all participants, so teammates will also be under surveillance, Sergio “Checo” Pérez (Red Bull) and Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), or members of the Austrian team’s satellite team, Alpha tauri, with Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda. Teams that use engines should not be excluded either. Mercedes, Aston Martin, McLaren and Williams. In short, from the outside, he will be seen by Ferrari and the two teams that he makes available as drivers, Alfa Romeo and Haas F1 Team.

Finally, among the three stewards appointed by the FIA ​​is an Englishman, which is striking because he is a compatriot from Hamilton. This is former F1 driver Derek Warwick (he raced between 1981 and 1993). The British are joined by the Australian Garry Connelly, the German Felix Holter and the local representative, Mohamed Alhashmi, is added.

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