Ex-Ferrari President hits out at FIA for ‘exaggerating’ track limits after Max Verstappen’s controversial 2024 season
Ferrari's Ex-President Luca di Montezemolo berated the FIA for exaggerating the penalties, especially towards Max Verstappen.
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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
Formula 1 was the center of major backlash in the 2024 season due to inconsistent penalties, especially to Max Verstappen. Despite FIA’s unfair ruling, Verstappen emerged victorious in the drivers’ championship. The Dutchman received some unfair penalties, especially the 20-second penalty at the Mexican GP. Due to these situations, the sport was forced to make some changes in the rules.
Ex-Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo berated the sport for ‘exaggerating’ penalties towards drivers in the 2024 season. Max Verstappen is infamous for his hard racing style on the grid and was penalized heavily on multiple occasions throughout the season. As a result, Montezemolo highlighted the need for the FIA to focus more on competition rather than precision.
Montezemolo claimed that the sport was exaggerating the effect of physical contact between drivers and the track limits. The Italian reckoned that Formula 1 must leave room for courage and emotion and not focus solely on precision. The 77-year-old believed that this was one factor that needed to be changed and worked upon.
I think we are exaggerating, both in terms of physical contact and in going beyond the lines of the track. So Formula 1 is becoming a precision watch: we must leave room for emotion, courage and the ability of the drivers who must not look at the millimetres. It is one of the points to reflect on to change things a bit.
Luca di Montezemolo told La politica nel Pallone on Radio GR Parlamento
Formula 1 is made up of ‘healthy duels’
Formula 1 wasn’t so strict and restricting for the drivers in the past as they put forth some of the best rivalries on the grid. Luca di Montezemolo noted that the sport was made up of healthy duels and the the governing body didn’t need to interfere. Moreover, the Italian jokingly questioned whether FIA would jail former drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux if they battled like Verstappen and Norris during the current regulations.
F1 is made of healthy duels: what would they have done in the duel between Villeneuve and Arnoux, would they have put them in jail?
Luca di Montezemolo noted
The sport continues to grow in terms of safety and popularity all over the world. Due to these changes, the FIA and Formula 1 might make some mistakes at times. However, the governing body is quick to rectify the mistakes and ensure such cases do not repeat.
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Aditya Pandya
(1488 Articles Published)