The way forward for System 1’ penalty factors system is about for a winter dialogue between the championship’s stakeholders, which might result in its alteration after Kevin Magnussen’s 2024 Baku ban.
The system of drivers being suspended for a race in the event that they hit a 12-point restrict has been a key focus level for F1’s drivers since Magnussen reached 10 factors for a sequence of sanctions throughout 2024’s early races – notably his infractions at Could’s Miami spherical.
When Haas driver Magnussen then collided with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly final day trip at Monza, he was hit with two extra penalty factors, in addition to a 10-second time addition, and has been banned from this weekend’s race in Azerbaijan, the place he has been changed by 2025 Haas signing Ollie Bearman.
Gasly argued in opposition to Magnussen being handed penalty factors over their conflict in Italian race, the place Magnussen going through double jeopardy given his in-race penalty was additionally a controversial subject, and lots of drivers have commented on the difficulty in Baku.
The state of affairs was raised within the drivers’ briefing for this weekend’s occasion and Gasly revealed after qualifying that the FIA was now “open” to reviewing the present guidelines after listening to the drivers.
“Yeah, I requested them on transferring ahead,” Gasly replied when requested in regards to the assembly by Motorsport.com. “As a result of I believe as a sport we by no means prefer to see somebody penalised in that manner, and the view was that it was a bit harsh.
“So, yeah, I believe it is undoubtedly one thing they’re open on reviewing and transferring ahead, which is an important.”
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Photos
Motorsport.com understands that the method of reviewing the penalty factors system has not been enacted thus far by F1’s stakeholders.
First, F1’s Sporting Advisory Committee (comprised of FOM and FIA officers, plus the sporting administrators from every group) might want to focus on the difficulty.
That is what is about to occur post-season, because the FIA’s coverage is to not change sporting guidelines in-season to keep away from tainting a complete competitors with alterations.
If the SAC agrees a assessment is then wanted, it will then be carried out by the FIA and introduced again to F1’s stakeholders earlier than any rule adjustments are then voted into the rules.
Nonetheless, any adjustments to the penalty factors system might find yourself being minor, as Motorsport.com understands that the FIA advised the drivers within the Baku briefing that it had analysed the variety of penalty factors handed out at every spherical in 2024 and this got here in at simply 2.2.
When the variety of occasions that selections involving Magnussen from the stewards this yr – 17 – was mixed with that quantity, the drivers had been mentioned to be extra understanding at what had occurred.
Any assessment and subsequent change of F1’s penalty factors guidelines would comply with the FIA reviewing all its guidelines on sporting incidents after the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
This led to minor transgressions akin to observe limits offences shedding penalty factors attachments.
