Stewards criticised: "You can't change the rules in the middle of the race"

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28 March 2021 at 18:48
Last update 28 March 2021 at 19:12
  • GPblog.com

Dutch racing driver and pundit Robert Doornbos argues that the stewards should have clearer guidelines regarding the track limits during the Grands Prix. Halfway through the race, Max Verstappen was told that Lewis Hamilton was going off track at turn 4 all afternoon, although in the drivers briefing it was agreed not to do so.

"It went well this way, rightly so", Doornbos judges at first. Yet the former Formula 1 driver is also critical."It is a point of discussion for the stewards because you cannot change the rules in the middle of the race. Or you punish Hamilton immediately if he went wide too often at the start, but not like: he has done it many times before, now it is not allowed anymore."

Hamilton takes a six-second advantage

In the review on Ziggo Sport the 39-year-old Dutchman further states: "This is pure time gain, that can make a difference of two tenths per lap." In the studio, it is then calculated that that is easily six seconds on a whole race.

"It's a point of discussion, a point of attention. For qualifying, it was very clear, but in the race, it was a bit of a grey area. You shouldn't tell these guys that, because they will take advantage of it," Doornbos concludes.