Ferrari and Aston Martin are expecting the FIA to tidy up its Formula 1 sporting regulations for 2025, following a protest in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying.
Aston Martin lodged a complaint in Shanghai following Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz’s return to Q2 after spinning off the track.
After making contact with the wall while exiting the last corner, Sainz experienced a 1 minute and 17 second delay before resuming his movement. Despite this setback, the determined Spaniard persevered and successfully progressed to Q3, displacing Lance Stroll, the Aston driver, in the process.
Following the elimination of their driver, Aston made the decision to lodge a protest against the results. Their protest was based on article 39.6 of the F1 sporting regulations, which explicitly states that “any driver whose car comes to a halt on the track during the qualifying session or the sprint qualifying session shootout will be disqualified from further participation in that session.”
The stewards rejected the protest since it was evident from past occurrences that the rule is specifically meant for cars that return to a qualifying session after receiving help from marshals or recovery vehicles, whereas Sainz carried on without any external aid.
However, this incident sparked a renewed debate on revising the rulebook, as it was previously agreed upon that the aspect of outside assistance should be included in 39.6, but unfortunately, it was not incorporated into the 2024 sporting regulations.
Tom McCullough, Aston Martin’s performance director, emphasized the importance of clarifying matters through discussions with the stewards. It is crucial to respect the decisions they make.
Moving forward, he hopes for a clearer and less ambiguous process, as the messaging system clearly indicates when the car has stopped.
According to the article, the car in question is not eligible to continue participating in the qualifying session. Therefore, this issue will be resolved in the future.
Fred Vasseur, the team principal of Ferrari, concurred that a clear explanation is necessary to prevent additional misunderstandings, highlighting the increasing complexity of F1’s sporting regulations.
I’m not sure if it’s evident, but it’s definitely important for us to grasp what has transpired,” Vasseur expressed.
“We inquired with the race director about the possibility of a restart, and he granted us permission, concluding the matter. We must precisely determine the circumstances…”
Certainly, it is undeniable that the regulations have become increasingly intricate. Initially, when I commenced my profession, the sporting regulation consisted of a mere 20 pages; however, presently it has expanded to encompass 75 pages.
“We are collectively endeavoring to discover a means of circumventing these regulations, which are progressively becoming more complex. Nevertheless, in this particular instance, we will undoubtedly uncover a straightforward explanation.”
McCullough disclosed that Aston’s veteran sporting director Andy Stevenson promptly identified the possible violation of rules as soon as Sainz’s car came to a halt on the track.
“Andy is seated beside me on the pit wall, and his expertise in the rulebook is unparalleled. He’s a walking encyclopedia when it comes to regulations. He has been a part of this team for a considerable amount of time,” McCullough stated.
As soon as it was reported on the official messaging system that a car had stopped, he quickly referenced ‘Article 39.6, he is not allowed to [rejoin].’
“We were a little bit surprised, which is why [we protested].”
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