F1 News: Hefty penalties touted by FIA to curb controversial F1 tactic used on Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, FIA, 2024, Social — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News

HEFTY penalties touted by FIA to curb controversial F1 tactic used on Hamilton

A strategy deployed by Kevin Magnussen in Miami has led to a review of the penalty system by the FIA

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Tuesday 21 May 2024 21:00

The FIA are planning to award harsher penalties following Kevin Magnussen’s antics during the Miami sprint race.

Magnussen was handed three 10-second penalties for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, which may have ruined his own race but worked in favour of his team-mate.

Managing to keep Lewis Hamilton behind, his tactics allowed Nico Hulkenberg to score vital points for Haas.

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Despite Hamilton laughing at the Dane’s actions post-race, others were less impressed with McLaren team boss Andrea Stella describing these antics as "unacceptable".

Kevin Magnussen helps team-mate score points during the Miami sprint

McLaren team principal is unhappy with Magnussen's antics

How will the FIA tackle team tactics?

According to Autosport the FIA want to clamp down on these tactics, and start handing out drive-through penalties.

This punishment would be handed out if there is a case of repeat offences where a driver keeps going off a track to maintain a position, exemplified by Magnussen in Miami.

The matter was discussed in Friday’s team managers briefing at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with a verdict yet to be announced.

RB team principal Laurent Mekies was also unhappy with Magnussen’s tactics and favours the position taken by the FIA.

Laurent Mekies agrees with FIA's solution

"It's one thing to slow strategically the cars behind you to help your team-mates or to help your race, it's something different to cut the track and gain a position on somebody to then slow him down," Mekies said to Autosport.

"I think the sport needs find a way to avoid from happening. It's not that difficult, it's called a drive-through. The rulebook completely allows the stewards to judge what happened and do that.”

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes McLaren FIA Haas Nico Hulkenberg