F1 drivers address concerns with racing rules in key Qatar meeting

A meeting between the FIA and F1 drivers took place on Thursday in Qatar, in which driving standards and penalty guidelines were discussed.

F1 drivers have voiced their concern over the sport's racing rules in recent months, insisting matters have become too complicated.

The FIA introduced the Driving Standards Guidelines (DSGs) in 2022 to clarify what is and isn't allowed when overtaking and defending, and they have been updated twice since their introduction.

This was initially done at the request of the drivers and are publicly available to give a deeper understanding as to why stewards swing towards certain rulings.

At the latest meeting, talks centred around a small number of case studies from the 2025 season, which included;

• Piastri–Antonelli (Interlagos): overtaking on the inside
• Sainz–Bearman (Monza): overtaking on the outside
• Sainz–Lawson (Zandvoort): application of the DSGs in long-radius corners
• Norris–Leclerc (Austin): track limits and what should or should not count as a strike
• Verstappen–Leclerc (Mexico City): leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage

The meeting was described as “frank and open” by the FIA, who hailed the “collegial atmosphere” in which discussions took place.

While no changes will be made at the final two events of the year, the FIA has stated the points discussed “will inform any future refinements to the DSGs, in consultation with the GPDA and the FIA Drivers’ Commission”.

The FIA listed four key takeaways from the drivers, which are;

• A stronger emphasis on respect for yellow flags, and discussion of potential additional concepts to further enhance safety
• A clear preference for hearings to be held after the race when stewards believe not all relevant elements may be available during live running
• A shared view that guidelines cannot cover every scenario, underlining the importance of having an experienced Driver Steward on each panel
• Blue flags, including potential additions to the DSGs to clarify expected behaviour from lapped cars