In F1 intense rivalries and nail-biting incidents are part and parcel of the sport. However, sometimes it appears that the rules are not applied consistently, leading to accusations of double standards. Recently, two incidents involving George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have ignited a fiery debate within the F1 community, shedding light on the FIA’s handling of on-track clashes and penalties. A closer look at the contrasting treatment of other incidents, like the George Russell-Max Verstappen clash in Baku, reveals potential double standards at play.

Around 2 months ago, during the Azerbaijan GP sprint race, tensions soared when Max Verstappen and George Russell found themselves in a wheel-to-wheel battle, the pivotal moment came at Turn 2 when Russell, positioned on the inside, refused to back down, leaving little room for Verstappen on the outside. With both drivers locked in a fierce contest for position, Verstappen’s RB19 made contact with the side of Russell’s Mercedes as he locked up, leading to damage on Verstappen’s sidepod. The FIA, however, decided not to investigate further or penalize either driver, deeming it an unavoidable racing incident.

Fast forward to the recent Belgian GP sprint, and the F1 world witnessed another contentious incident, this time involving Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez. Hamilton, aiming to overtake Perez, made contact with the Red Bull driver at Turn 16, resulting in a hole in the right-hand sidepod of Perez’s car and compromising his performance. The stewards reviewed the incident and handed Hamilton a five-second penalty, dropping him from P4 to P7 in the final classification and an added 2 pts. penalty.

What’s most intriguing is how the FIA approached this dramatic incident compared to Lewis Hamilton’s recent clash with Sergio Perez at the Belgian GP sprint. In Baku, the Russell-Verstappen collision was deemed a racing incident, and no penalties were issued. However, in a twist of events in Belgium, Hamilton’s maneuver resulted in a penalty. This incident in Belgium has once again thrown the spotlight on the FIA’s decision-making process and raised questions about consistency in penalizing drivers for on-track incidents.

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Amidst the drama of the sprint race, Lewis Hamilton found himself at the center of F1 stewards’ scrutiny, as he was hit with a double punishment following a collision with Sergio Perez.

Lewis Hamilton frustrated with FIA’s decision

Hamilton’s attempt to overtake Perez resulted in contact that caused damage to the Red Bull’s sidepod, forcing Perez to retire a few laps later. F1 officials wasted no time in imposing a time penalty on Hamilton and added 2 penalty points to his license, much to his dismay. Hamilton expressed his discontent, referring to the incident as a “racing incident” and standing by the belief that drivers should not be deterred from taking risks on the track.

Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle echoed Hamilton’s sentiments, questioning the severity of the penalty. Hamilton’s frustration was palpable as he argued, “As Ayrton said, if you no longer go for a gap that exists, then you are no longer a racing driver. That is what I did. And when I watched it back it feels like a racing incident to me.” With the championship battle heating up, it remains to be seen how the FIA will navigate these murky waters and ensure fair play and consistent judgments throughout the season.

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