Brundle criticises F1 combat rules after Norris-Verstappen Austin clash

Martin Brundle believes F1's driver combat rules are a "blueprint to dissuade" overtaking around the outside after the Max Verstappen-Lando Norris controversy. 

In the United States Grand Prix, Norris was penalised five seconds for overtaking Verstappen off the track at Turn 12 after being forced wide by the Red Bull. 

Other drivers had taken a penalty for similar offences earlier in the race, with the sanction dropping Norris off the podium, and costing him a three further points to Verstappen in the championship battle.

F1's overtaking guidelines state that a driver must have a significant portion of their front-axle alongside the front-axle of a rival to be afforded space, but the stewards still penalised Norris for "leaving the track and gaining an advantage."

Sky Sports F1 commentator Brundle believes the current state of the rules mean a driver can "game" the system. 

"And so started a string of laps which was textbook attack by Norris, and defending by Verstappen, particularly with regard to car placement," Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports F1 column.

"It was all fair enough, but on lap 52 Norris was closer than ever exiting the turn 11 hairpin and a pass seemed inevitable.

"This would put Norris on the outside for the next left-hander at turn 12. Verstappen braked later and sailed back up the inside to attempt to reclaim the position. And this is where it all gets terribly messy and potentially confusing.

"As they exited the corner Verstappen ran marginally outside of track limits, with Norris much wider. Lando floored the throttle and steamed through the run-off area to take third place, much to Max's inevitable chagrin.

"There are track limit infringement sporting regulations to define the field of play, and there are 'F1 Driving Standards Guidelines'.

"As far as I'm concerned, the six-page Guidelines (therefore not regulations), which have been signed off by the FIA, the drivers' association (GPDA), and the teams, are a blueprint to dissuade overtaking, especially around the outside. 

"There are key reference points that are hard to define for both drivers and stewards, such as where exactly is the apex of any given corner across the entire width of the track, along with specific front axle and car mirror positions in a fast-moving event such as a racing overtake.

"Moreover, a driver can game the system by, for example, accelerating and running wide, thereby ensuring the overtaking driver on the inside is penalised for not allowing them a 'fair and acceptable width' from the apex to the exit of the corner."

'Let them race'

The guidelines were introduced in a bid to make it clear to drivers what is and what is not allowed in close combat, but earlier in the race, George Russell was in Verstappen's position and forced Valtteri Bottas off at Turn 12. 

This, by the letter of the law, was a five-second penalty, but Verstappen did not receive any sanction for his role in the Norris incident.

Brundle questioned why Verstappen was not penalised for his own Turn 12 move.

"I don't know what happened to the 'let them race' approach from a while back which worked reasonably well," he wrote.

"As far as I'm concerned, if you pass a car on the inside of a corner, while remaining under control and not locked up, and keeping within the track confines, then you have won the corner and can take the normal racing line through the exit.

"Then it's up to the driver who has been passed to yield, not to hit the throttle and inevitably run wide. George Russell took an unreasonable penalty for this in Austin because the guidelines had to be applied. As have others.

"If Russell was penalised for running Valtteri Bottas wide, shouldn't Verstappen have been penalised for running Norris wide at the same corner? And here's another question, given Norris had passed Verstappen down the outside before turn 12, when Verstappen sailed back up the inside, who was actually doing the overtaking at the corner apex, Verstappen or Norris?

"The circuit layouts and run-offs create the problems, and the ever more complex driving rules fail to manage all of the inevitable and varied issues.

"Don't simply blame the referees, that's not fair and won't solve the problem. The driving guidelines need a serious tweak, and much simplification."