FIA gives code of conduct to F1 drivers, clear rules to create action

After the questionable final round in Abu Dhabi last year, Michael Masi had to relinquish his spot as race director to the FIA. In his place, the FIA came up with two replacements, namely Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas. Their main task was to keep the racing fair, without unnecessary contact with the stewards and an excess of time penalties.

Wittich and Freitas already let it be known in Bahrain how they will approach this season. The FIA has introduced a code of conduct for the drivers and teams. Auto, Motor und Sport know. The two-page document states what the rules are for overtaking cars and what the race control will do about track limits.

Clarity requested by drivers

This code came at the request of the drivers, who had asked the FIA to establish clear rules on what is and is not allowed. The new code of conduct means that both drivers in a fight must give each other space to stay next to each other within the track limits. If you want to overtake a driver on the inside, the front wheels must be at least equal to the car you are overtaking.

If a driver wants to overtake on the outside, the car has to be in front of the other driver before the apex of the corner. In case of a chicane, both corners are considered separate and the above rules are applied there for eacht seperate corner. Also with track limits, the race control has drawn a similar line. Where they used to apply them in specific corners in 2021 and the years before, they have decided to apply the white line as the track limit everywhere this year.

Teams become responsible for choices

The rule remains that your time will be removed in the practice sessions or qualifying and that if you cross the white line three times in the race, you will face a time penalty. Furthermore, the teams and drivers will have to enforce this themselves and the race control will no longer actively communicate with the teams. This puts much more responsibility on the shoulders of the teams and drivers to make the right decision.