Through the shredder? Verstappen gives his take on F1's racing guidelines

Max Verstappen jokingly made clear that he would run Formula 1’s racing guidelines through a shredder if it were up to him. 

Following Oscar Piastri’s penalty in Brazil, debate over F1’s racing guidelines has resurfaced. Carlos Sainz called the penalty handed to the McLaren driver “unacceptable” and added that the guidelines will be discussed in Qatar.

These documents outline what is and isn’t allowed when overtaking on the inside and around the outside. They serve as a reference point, although stewards are not formally required to follow them since they are only guidelines. 

When Verstappen was asked about the guidelines during his Dutch media round ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver initially preferred not to get too involved.  

"It’s better if I say nothing," Verstappen said. "If I have something to say about it, I should do that directly with the stewards or the FIA. If you talk too much about things in public, you can get a penalty for that as well."

Asked whether Verstappen still keeps that in mind during all his media appearances, he replied: "Of course. I’m the only one who has been penalised for using a swear word, so I have to be very careful with what I say. Then I think, ‘I’d better say nothing at all’. It is like that, unfortunately."

Verstappen’s opinion on the racing guidelines, however, is clear: "I don’t always like the rules we have, but I simply follow them as they’re written."

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

When Autosport asked Verstappen whether F1 has become too complex with rules for practically everything, the four-time world champion replied: "You could say that, yes. The problem is that the more rules you create, the harder you make it for yourself. 

"In the end, that’s not even about the stewards, because they just follow the rulebook. You see something with your own eyes, you form an opinion, but when you look at the rules, it might be different again. So, what do you apply? The stewards are in a difficult position. I experienced that myself during my great day in Marrakesh," he smiled, referring to his day with Formula E stewards, serving his first public service penalty.

"The stewards were super nice, but in the end, they’re bound to that rule book. It sometimes makes it really difficult to make the right decision."

Exactly those guidelines will be discussed in Qatar with the drivers, but Verstappen believes he won’t have to say much during the drivers’ briefing. 

“I think Carlos and George [Russell] already have everything prepared for that one, so I’ll just sit back and relax,” Verstappen joked. 

If he did have a say, the guidelines would look differently. “I’d just…” he said, before mimicking the motion of feeding documents into a shredder.

In reality, the Dutchman has no desire to be in a position where he would have to decide on such matters: “No, you definitely won’t see me in F1 as a steward!” 

Max Verstappen is nominated for Driver of the Year in this season’s Autosport Awards, head here to find out more.