Martin Brundle, a former Formula 1 driver and current Sky Sports pundit, has called for a rule change in the sport after witnessing an unjust penalty during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Brundle was referring to the incident that occurred on lap 12 of the sprint race, when Lewis Hamilton was given a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits at turn 19. The penalty was applied after Hamilton had already crossed the finish line, dropping him from second to fifth place in the final classification.
Brundle argued that the penalty was too harsh and unfair, as Hamilton had gained no advantage by running wide at the corner. He also pointed out that the track limits rule was inconsistently enforced, as other drivers who had done the same thing were not penalized.
In his column for Sky Sports, Brundle wrote: “I don’t like the track limits rule at all. It’s too arbitrary and subjective, and it can ruin a great race for the fans and the drivers. I think F1 needs to find a better way to define and police the track limits, either by using physical barriers or electronic sensors, or by letting the drivers race freely within the white lines.”
Brundle suggested that F1 should adopt a similar system to MotoGP, where riders are allowed to exceed track limits three times before receiving a warning, and then a penalty if they do it again. He said that this would give the drivers more leeway and avoid unnecessary punishments.
He also criticized the timing of the penalty, which was announced after the sprint race had ended. He said that this was confusing and unfair for Hamilton, who had no chance to defend his position or make up for the lost time. He said that the penalty should have been applied immediately, or at least before the final lap, so that Hamilton and the other drivers would know their true positions.
Brundle concluded his column by saying that F1 needs to review and revise its rules for the next season, especially for the sprint races, which he said have failed to add excitement to the sport. He said that the sprint races should be shorter, more intense, and more rewarding, with more points and prizes on offer.
He said: “F1 is a great sport, but it can always be improved. I hope that the FIA and the teams will listen to the feedback from the drivers and the fans, and make the necessary changes to make the racing more fair, more consistent, and more thrilling.”
