Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell reveals major overtaking rule change blocked by just one F1 driver

GEORGE RUSSELL has revealed that one Formula One driver voted against a major change to the rules.

The driver’s title race took a fresh twist in Mexico as a 20-second penalty for Max Verstappen allowed Lando Norris to close the gap on the Dutchman to just 47 points.

However, the weekend was also significant because it saw race stewards take a new approach to judging racing incidents.

At the US Grand Prix in Austin, Norris had been handed a five-second penalty for going off the track and gaining an advantage when trying to overtake the Red Bull at Turn 12, costing him a podium.

The McLaren driver had argued that he was forced off the road by Verstappen when defending, though the FIA dismissed an appeal from the team.

A meeting involving the pair followed in the week before the Mexico Grand Prix, with the meeting becoming “lively” as the debate over the rules intensified.

The Mexico race then saw Verstappen defending against Norris again, with the Brit again going off track, before the Red Bull then shoved him off a few turns later to get the position back.

These two moves resulted in Verstappen receiving a 20-second time penalty and resulted in him finishing down in P6, while Norris claimed P2 behind Ferrari race winner and former team-mate Carlos Sainz.

However, the rules were interpreted differently from one weekend to the next.

The current racing guidelines say a driver overtaking on the outside needs to be afforded extra room exiting the corner if the front axle of his car is ahead of that of the inside car at the apex.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

But many drivers feel the rule needs to be changed to add a caveat that if the driver defending his position also ends up going off track, they should face some form of penalty.

In an effort to clear up the racing guidelines, drivers have voted on how the rules should be interpreted.

And Russell, who serves as the head of Grand Prix Drivers’ Association said that all drivers bar one have agreed to rectify the rules immediately.

Though the 26-year-old did not name the driver who went against his peers, the Mercedes star said: “I think the stewards are totally on board with what needs to change.

“Our view is, I think the biggest discussion is, they wanted to wait until 2025, so it’s something consistent through this year.

“I would say 19 out of 20 drivers said: ‘Well, if it’s incorrect, make the change today’.

“I’m glad to see those incidents were punished [in Mexico] and I suspect moving forward in Brazil, what we saw today and what we saw last week you won’t be able to get away with.

“You presume [it should be easy to change if everyone agrees], but it sometimes seems more difficult than it has to be when things have to get approved and we’ve got to go to a vote app.

“But as I said, 19 out of 20, we’re all aligned on where it needs to be.”

Russell – who F1 fans may have the chance to dress from next season following a stunning job posting by the Silver Arrows – finished in fifth place behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton in Mexico.

Asked about the incidents of allegedly running another driver off track, Hamilton said: “You shouldn’t be able to come off the brakes and run more speed in and go off the track and still hold your place.”

Three-time champion Verstappen said he has always raced according to the meaning of the rules, and that if they were changed he would drive according to the new meaning of them as well.

However, any new driver guidelines will take time to publish, and a new draft of the rules will not be available for the drivers to consider until the Qatar Grand Prix in December.

Despite Russell claiming 19 out of 20 agree they need rectifying, no official vote has taken place yet.

According to the BBC’s Andrew Benson, drivers previously had no issue with the rules but were instead frustrated by the inconsistent application of them by stewards.

However, now both the written guidelines and their application have come into question.

The final race in a triple header now sees F1 return to Brazil.

Organisers have confirmed a £22million investment has allowed for the entire circuit at Interlagos to be resurfaced as well as the upgrade of a number of hospitality features and building of an access tunnel.

They have also revealed a touching tribute will be paid to Ayrton Senna 30 years on from his death, with Hamilton set to drive his 1990 McLaren car on Saturday evening.

 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year