McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella criticized Kevin Manussen’s defensive driving during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint and stated that consistently “harming” other racers’ performances should result in a race ban. Magnussen was put in a difficult position after losing the DRS to his teammate Nico Hulkenberg when Hulkenberg cut the chicane. As a result, Magnussen had to aggressively defend his position to ensure Hulkenberg scored points in the Sprint, similar to what he did in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March. However, this led to him leaving the track to gain an unfair advantage and pushing Lewis Hamilton wide in his determined defense. Magnussen received 25 seconds worth of penalties, which he believed was a fair punishment for a driving style he did not even enjoy employing. Stella, on the other hand, strongly believed that this penalty was insufficient. According to Stella, intentional behavior that harms another competitor should not only result in cumulative penalties but also in a more severe punishment. Stella suggested that instead of a simple accumulation of penalties, a driver who engages in such behavior should be required to take a break from racing, reflect on their sportsmanship, and only be allowed to return if they demonstrate loyalty, fairness, and good sportsmanship towards their fellow competitors. Stella emphasized that this kind of behavior is completely unacceptable in the sport.
Stella reiterated his criticism of the F1 penalty system, which includes points on drivers’ licenses, and suggested that it may be time for the FIA to reassess its procedures.
“I believe the penalty points are still in effect,” he stated. “However, I am unsure of the exact circumstances for certain drivers. I must admit.
“Nevertheless, it is possible that the metrics will need to be adjusted.
“Intentionally sabotaging the race of competitors is nonsensical from a sportsmanship standpoint, and this issue should be promptly addressed. If you are outside of the points and receive a 20-second penalty or something similar at the end of your race, it makes no difference.
“But for the competitors you have harmed, you have effectively ended their race. This behavior, deliberate and repeated, is completely unacceptable.”
Stella further suggested that the FIA may have been caught off guard by the same driver and team employing the same tactics within a single quarter of an F1 season. He believes this is a matter that the governing body will investigate.
The calm and composed McLaren Team Principal carefully crafted his response to Magnussen’s driving on Saturday, ensuring that his “strong” opinion was conveyed to prompt action and prevent the recurrence of tactics like those employed by Haas.
“I want to emphasize the importance of fairness in this sport. It is a competition, and we must provide everyone with an equal opportunity to compete,” Stella emphasized.
“These values must be taken into consideration when establishing the appropriate set of regulations.
“However, I am confident that the FIA will thoroughly examine this matter and propose a sensible solution for the Sporting Advisory Committee to evaluate. Hopefully, this will soon lead to either rules or guidelines that the stewards can implement.”