FIA to address regulations after Verstappen championship confusion

Ewan Gale
Friday 21 October 2022 21:43

The FIA has confirmed it will revisit the "wording of the regulations" after confusion marred Max Verstappen's crowning as a double F1 world champion.

The Dutchman dominated the Japanese Grand Prix in a race that was shortened to a 40-minute sprint following a lengthy rain delay of over two hours.

With the event not reaching 75 per cent race distance, it was assumed that, as per regulations, only a portion of the points would be allocated at the end of the race and that Verstappen was a point short of being confirmed as champion.

But a quirk in the wording of the regulations meant that as the race finished under green flag conditions, full points would be awarded and thus ensuring that, after a penalty was applied to Charles Leclerc, the Red Bull driver's second title was sealed.

READ: FIA announces raft of procedural changes after Japanese GP crane controversy

After the confusion and the recovery vehicle controversy on the initial race start, at Suzuka, the FIA launches a far-reaching review into the procedures undertaken throughout the event.

A review led to a number of measures being taken and addressing the points situation, a statement read: "At the Japanese Grand Prix, Article 6.5 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations which covers race time limit and points distribution was applied correctly.

"However, the wording of the regulations will be revisited with a view to bringing further clarity during the next review of the Sporting Regulations."