How to fix F1's haphazard stewarding
Who should and should not have been punished - and for what - was a contentious topic after a busy Mexican Grand Prix for the stewards. Do human nature and logistics make complete rules consistency impossible, or is a solution just common sense?
No sooner had this column criticised Formula 1 for operating to regulations that were, in many instances, unenforceable - and applied inconsistently where they were - than the championship went out of its way in Mexico to further excel itself by punishing certain incidents that were arguably racing clashes, while seemingly ignoring a number of blatant transgressions entirely.
The inconsistencies got off to a good start, with Turn 1, lap one setting the scene for the next 100 minutes (plus a further two hours in post-race investigations). Leader and poleman Lewis Hamilton outbraked himself after the longest run to the first corner on the calendar, locked up and slid well wide - with impunity.
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