A former world champion has urged the creation of a “clear rule” book following ongoing criticism of Max Verstappen in 2024.
Mario Andretti believes that, given Max Verstappen’s recent incidents, the FIA should evaluate each situation using clearly defined rules.
Former American F1 driver Mario Andretti has come to the defense of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen following recent incidents in various races. At the Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen received a 20-second penalty for impeding and obstructing another driver on the track.
Max Verstappen has consistently been outspoken about his preferences and decisions. The 27-year-old believed that his actions during the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez were justified. However, despite being a three-time world champion, many criticized him after the race.
Since then, Andretti has called on the FIA to establish clear rules for any incidents occurring on the track. He also mentioned that Verstappen has been making these mistakes because his car is no longer as dominant as it once was.
I see Verstappen as somewhat unsettled by the season’s dynamics and the current situation at
Red Bull. His situation has shifted significantly compared to last year and the start of 2024, requiring him to extract performances from the car that may not be readily available. When you’re no longer in a dominant vehicle and are pushed beyond reasonable limits, mistakes can happen. While some penalties might be justified, others might not seem fair; it’s crucial to have clear rules in place to ensure consistency with penalization decisions.
