The opening between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris has been decreased to 47 elements after an exhilarating Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, which was acquired by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen was given two 10-second penalties following incidents involving Norris, nevertheless he managed to finish sixth whole.
Norris was trailing in third for nearly all the race sooner than passing Charles Leclerc to finish second.
BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson options your questions after an action-packed grand prix.
With the drivers pointers being revised, why has it taken this prolonged to evaluation them considering Verstappen’s conduct inside the 2021 season? – Olly
The current pointers received right here out of a request from the drivers for an enchancment in policing of racing incidents, and had been aimed towards trying to create higher consistency of utility.
They weren’t significantly created in relation to Max Verstappen’s driving.
Approving such objects is a protracted course of that passes through many ranges of the FIA, and requires closing approval from the world motorsport council.
As an illustration, whereas the drivers and the FIA talked about amending the foundations in Mexico Metropolis on Friday, the model new draft will be accessible for the drivers to consider solely on the Qatar Grand Prix in a month’s time.
It is worth mentioning that the current pointers have not technically been formally licensed by the drivers.
In fact, the foundations had been confirmed to the drivers nevertheless they talked about on the time that, comparatively than consider the wording, they might favor to focus on the parents executing the foundations.
That was because of they felt the had been constructive, nevertheless had been being utilized in an inconsistent methodology.
Now, the state of affairs is completely totally different – the drivers had a difficulty every with the foundations themselves and their utility.
They actually really feel the current tips depart a grey area that permitted the type of defence Verstappen employed in direction of Lando Norris in Austin – subsequently
Are the driving necessities in F1 as unhealthy as they’ve ever been? – Paul
On steadiness, it is most definitely the case that driving necessities in F1 are as extreme as they’ve ever been.
There are quite a few world-class drivers in F1, and by and large all of them race fairly as a lot because the prohibit of the foundations.
Some drivers will on a regular basis verify the bounds of the foundations, and what’s considered acceptable. Ayrton Senna did it, Michael Schumacher did it, and now Max Verstappen is doing it.
Verstappen’s defensive driving was seen in direction of Norris in Austin. Brake late on the inside to be sure to are ahead on the apex, and get no penalty for taking every automobiles off observe because of technically no rule has been broken.
Nevertheless the incident in Austin has proved a watershed. The drivers have requested for the foundations to be modified accordingly.
It is not fully clear, though, whether or not or not the stewards, nonetheless working to the current pointers, took a further excessive line with Verstappen in Mexico due to this.
Mercedes employees principal Toto Wolff talked about he thought that was the case, nevertheless the stewards’ verdicts there gave completely totally different reasoning to the one in Austin. And that’s because of in that whereas in Austin Verstappen was ahead on the apex, in Mexico Norris was.
Will Russell have an updated car for Interlagos or will Mercedes nonetheless not have different parts? – Okay Raj
Mercedes are in a little bit little bit of a spot correct now for two causes – the number of huge crashes their drivers have been having, and their uncertainty over whether or not or not their latest enhance bundle has launched an instability into the auto.
In fact, the two factors is also related – it seems potential that George Russell’s crashes in Austin and Mexico might need been attributable to this instability, and likewise Lewis Hamilton’s offs in Austin, in observe and the race.
The amount of harm – moreover along with Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s huge crash in observe in Italy – is inflicting Mercedes a two-pronged disadvantage – lack of spare parts and expense.
They’re now pushing onerous up in direction of their cost-cap prohibit. Crew principal Toto Wolff talked about the need to provide Russell a mannequin new chassis after his crash in Mexico was “an unbelievable hit beneath the worth cap and we most definitely must dial down on what we positioned on the auto”.
Wolff talked about after the Mexico race on Sunday that in Brazil this weekend they’d have two variations of the model new floor that was launched in Austin “nevertheless that’s principally it”.
As for the specification whereby the automobiles will run in Brazil, and whether or not or not the newest factors may persuade them to abandon the model new floor and revert to a earlier specification, Wolff talked about: “I am open-minded about what the drivers assume.
“I am certain George will go for the model new and Lewis would possibly must back-to-back the outdated floor now in Brazil, and we will certainly converse with him about what his alternative is.”
Why is the driving drive in pole place at first on the left side of the observe even when the first flip is to the exact? – John
In Mexico Metropolis, pole is on the left because of that is the racing line, and fairly often that is considered to be an advantageous place, no matter it being on the floor on the strategy to the first nook.
That’s because of the racing line often has further grip than the inside line, because of it is pushed on all weekend, so it is cleaner and has further rubber laid down. In precept, the driving drive on pole must have the flexibility to make a better start than the one in second, with all totally different points being equal.
This methodology truly goes once more to the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix and the controversial crash between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost on the primary nook.
Senna and Prost had been disputing the title at that race. Senna licensed his McLaren on pole, with Prost’s Ferrari second.
The FISA (as a result of the sporting arm of the FIA was recognized once more then) had put pole on the exact – the inside line. Senna requested for it to be moved to the grippier outdoor line, nevertheless then-FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre refused.
This angered Senna, who already believed Balestre had interfered to ensure Prost acquired the 1989 title after the two drivers had crashed collectively on the chicane in Japan the sooner 12 months, as soon as they’d been McLaren team-mates.
Senna decided that if Prost beat him to the first nook, the Frenchman would not make it any extra. Prost did get a better start, and Senna deliberately crashed into him, taking them every out.
To return once more to the trendy day, whereas it is further frequent for pole to be on the floor line, it is not on a regular basis the case. In Belgium and Canada, for example, pole is on the inside.
Primarily, pole is positioned on the side that is considered to be most advantageous for the driving drive who has licensed there.
If Colapinto retains performing one of the best ways he has been for the rest of the season, actually he ought to get a seat for 2025, and is RB the most likely? – Kev
Franco Colapinto has impressed since he was drafted in at Williams to trade Logan Sargeant, who was dropped after the Dutch Grand Prix.
Having talked about that, Mexico was not Colapinto’s biggest race – he struggled in qualifying with oversteer and was slightly lots slower than team-mate Alex Albon, for the first time since his debut in Monza.
Most observers actually really feel that the Argentine has confirmed adequate to point out he deserves a seat in F1 subsequent 12 months. The problem is that there aren’t many seats accessible.
Williams cannot take him because of they’ve already signed Carlos Sainz to affiliate Albon.
The one unconfirmed seats are one at Sauber/Audi alongside Nico Hulkenberg and one at RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
Nonetheless, Sergio Perez’s place at Pink Bull is beneath crucial menace – as soon as extra – after a set of poor performances.
Colapinto is into consideration at Sauber, although there are totally different candidates there, just like incumbent Valtteri Bottas and Elements 2 championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto.
And it seems Colapinto would possibly now even be inside the physique for the second RB seat – if Perez is dropped and Liam Lawson is promoted to Pink Bull.
Are Ferrari now favourites for every titles subsequent 12 months? – Ed
Ferrari are literally approaching sturdy inside the closing part of this season, following an enhance launched on the Italian Grand Prix that has clearly been very environment friendly.
Their one-three finish in Mexico, following their one-two in Austin, has moved them ahead of Pink Bull into second inside the constructors’ championship and so they’re now solely 29 elements behind McLaren.
Nevertheless just because a employees finishes one season strongly doesn’t suggest they could start the next one like that.
All the teams will be inserting the teachings of this 12 months’s automobiles into subsequent 12 months’s designs.
It’ll solely be potential to know who has accomplished among the best job when the model new automobiles run on the primary race subsequent 12 months.
And as this 12 months has proved, just because a employees begins a season successfully, it would not suggest they could basically proceed which means.
