Formula 1 rules comparison with football

The Max Verstappen/George Russell controversy at the Spanish Grand Prix could all have been avoided if the stewards were still following the rules of a few years ago.

The whole controversy was caused because Red Bull had to guess what the stewards' decision would be regarding George's collision with Max at turn one. The team guessed, incorrectly, that Max would have to let George past (as it turned out, the stewards decided otherwise, because George was not in control of his car when he hit Max), and this is what angered Max causing him to get an attack of the red mist.

Under the rules of a few years ago, the stewards would have advised Red Bull, and Mercedes, that there was no need for a position swap. George would still likely have overtaken Max at some point, but Max's resultant angry move into George could have been avoided.

To go into more detail, a few years ago the stewards used to inform teams when they needed to let a driver through or give the place back. The teams had to follow this instruction, otherwise they would get a penalty. Similarly, if there was no need to swap positions, then the stewards would advise the teams of this. Now though, stewards don't advise the teams, so instead the teams have to guess what the stewards' decision will be. Given the number of variables involved in a decision, that means you have teams and drivers having to guess who was ahead at the apex (and where the apex even is), whether drivers were in control, whether they left enough room, etc. They basically have to guess the stewards' decision.

Imagine if in football you had to guess whether you were offside or not, and if you were offside but played on, you got a yellow card. It would be ridiculous. Well, that's formula 1 right now. They need to go back to the standard of a few seasons ago, when the stewards would tell the teams whether they needed to give the place back, rather than the teams having to guess.

The chink in Max Verstappen's armor

Here's my opinion on the controversy at the end of the Spanish Grand Prix involving Max Verstappen...

Verstappen/Leclerc contact: Charles moved across onto Max's line (causing contact), but Charles was entitled to because; a) he was clearly ahead, and b) he left Max space. Charles therefore did not have to give the position back, so Max was incorrect in his radio messages to his team.

Verstappen/Russell turn 1 contact: George hit Max and because George was not in control of his car, George was at fault, therefore Max did not have to give the place back.

Max's response to Leclerc contact: When Max said Charles had to give him the place back, the stewards correctly disagreed. Charles was ahead and although he moved over, he still left Max plenty of space between the edge of the track.

Max's response to Russell contact: Max was understandably angry at his team for telling him to let George pass, because George was the one at fault (Max was ahead when George hit him), so there was no need to switch positions (as later confirmed by the stewards). However, if Max disagreed with the instruction, he should have made his case to his team, then ignored the instruction, rather than slide into the side of George when he was letting him past.

By sliding into George, Max has cost himself 9 points which could prove costly at the end of the season. His anger should have directed at his own team, rather than at George.

Virtually every race has a controversial decision from the stewards which divides opinion, so a formula 1 driver will inevitably feel angry at times. However, when a decision (or team advice) goes against you, you need to control your anger, rather than let your anger control you. Max is clearly an exceptionally brilliant driver, but arguably the one chink in his armor is his composure.