Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024

Verstappen “had to be penalised” but Colapinto call was “harsh” – Vowles

Formula 1

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Williams team principal James Vowles says he was “frustrated” by the penalty handed to Franco Colapinto at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix.

Colapinto clashed with fellow rookie Liam Lawson while battling over 12th place with under ten laps remaining in last weekend’s race.

The Williams driver attempted to pass the RB around the outside of the first corner, then was pushed wide by Lawson. As they took the left-hander at turn two, Lawson clipped the rear of the Williams, damaging his front wing. Colapinto was later handed a 10-second penalty by the stewards after the race for causing the collision, but this did not change his finishing position.

It was one of several collisions and incidents over the last two weeks of racing throughout the field that has placed a spotlight on the rules of racing and the stewards’ interpretation of the FIA’s guidelines. Most significantly, championship leader Max Verstappen was handed two ten second penalties for forcing Lando Norris off the circuit twice in half a lap while attempting to keep the McLaren behind him.

Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Lawson forced Colapinto off when the Williams driver attacked
Vowles said the issue of driver penalties is “a very difficult subject with a lot of emotion attached to it” and “the stewards are in a very difficult spot.”

“They have to adjudicate whether or not we’re letting drivers race too hard or whether or not as a result of accidents or otherwise or positional changes, the place should be given back,” he said in a video produced by the team.

“We want the drivers to be racing, we don’t want to restrict it such that we’re not on-track fighting each other tooth and nail because that’s what we’re here for. But conversely, there needs to be boundaries by which we’re not simply pushing the other car off the track or causing an accident. And that’s the fine line that stewards adjudicate.

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“My opinion of their response to Verstappen was correct. He had to be penalised for that. The defence was incorrect at that point – you can’t run yourself and another car off the track as a result of things.”

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Poll: Did the stewards give Verstappen the correct penalties for latest Norris incidents?
Recently penalty calls regarding Verstappen and Norris have led to a review of F1’s guidelines on overtaking. “I think the correct actions are being taken whereby there’s been an open form discussion with the drivers on the weekend, which will then result, I believe, in a change over the course of the next few races,” Vowles continued. “So that’s a positive direction of travel. We need to make sure we don’t lose the fact that we’re racing each other.”

Despite agreeing with Verstappen’s penalty, Vowles did not feel that Colapinto deserved his ten second penalty and two penalty points for his clash with Lawson later in the race.

“My frustration is that in the case of Franco, I think that was a harsh penalty – especially penalty points on his superlicence – for what I think is just racing hard but fairly,” Vowles explained.

“Lawson ran the car out [wide], there wasn’t really any room on track there for Franco, and Franco just kept the line going into the next corner. It wasn’t an intention to cause an accident. I feel on that particular account, again, it’s a fine line, but on the wrong side of it in the case of what we’ve received as a penalty.”

Williams failed to score for the second time in the last three rounds in Mexico while Alpine, the team behind Williams in the championship, scored a point with Pierre Gasly in tenth. Williams now sit only three points ahead of their rivals heading into the final five rounds.

“It’s disappointing to walk away without points,” Vowles admitted. “And probably more significantly, Alpine scored a point and Haas had a very good weekend, moving themselves ahead in the championship.

“There’s still five races to go and there’s still plenty of opportunity to come.”

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Will Wood
Will has been a RaceFans contributor since 2012 during which time he has covered F1 test sessions, launch events and interviewed drivers. He mainly...

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11 comments on “Verstappen “had to be penalised” but Colapinto call was “harsh” – Vowles”

  1. Many of the young drivers, including Colapinto, want to show the veterans what they can do. They often go beyond the limits of what is permitted. Tough penalties should help prevent such fouls. Therefore, thumbs up for sensible punishments.

  2. Colapinto “had to be penalised” but Verstappen call was “harsh” – Horner

    1. Yes, good point, it’s obvious a team principal would defend his own driver and blame the other driver.

  3. Can’t have it both ways James. Either you give a penalty, or you do not, if you start singling out individuals depending on which team they’re from then what slippery slope are you even on?

  4. “I think the correct actions are being taken whereby there’s been an open form discussion with the drivers on the weekend, which will then result, I believe, in a change over the course of the next few races,” Vowles continued.

    I certainly hope they also take enforcement fairness into the scope of this review. Imagine having a German referee during a World Cup football final between France and Germany. Similarly there should never be stewards sharing nationality with any of the drivers.

    1. Where does one draw that line? Is a Belgian still to close to Norris because his mother is from there? Are Swiss not eligible because half a dozen tax dodging drivers are located there? Could an Argentinian be a fair steward when a Brazilian is involved? Would a Taiwanese be a good judge of an incident involving a Chinese?

      The stewards are a group. There is no singular decision maker. Casting a cloud of suspicion over some individuals is baseless as the stewards always speak as one.

      1. Yes that could be a factor and is the reason that never happens in football. That is why stewards should be from countries with no binding with someone on track…

        Problems is there are not many stewards from countries who doesn’t have a contryman on track. for example No stewards from the UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Mexico. So we have left Stewards from the US, Brasil and Germany you notice we don’t have a lot of options if you know Max father in law is Brasilian …

        Beter would be a 5 man who be selected from the most experience and lest bias possible and keep them for the whole year.

        1. Somewhat 195 nations in the world. And make it a proper licensed job, with training. It is time FIA takes its responsibility and starts taking this seriously. This old boys network doesn’t fit in today’s society. People openly disqualify themselves in the press (Herbert) but still remain in function. This reeks of corruption and I guess you wouldn’t want to give that impression as governing body?

  5. Shocking opinion from chinless budget-Toto

  6. Colapinto penalty was also fair, given he had the option to back off & Lawson gave him enough space to avoid contact at T2.

  7. I think the correct actions are being taken whereby there’s been an open form discussion with the drivers on the weekend, which will then result, I believe, in a change over the course of the next few races

    Its amazing how F1, despite all of its regulations and processes, still has to resort to getting the drivers in a room and having a discussion about what is & isn’t acceptable driving, and potentially, what will & won’t be punished by the stewards. Imagine going into an F1 race, and trying to overtake or defend.. but not knowing whether a move is or isn’t going to be punished.

    In any other sport the idea of the participants having a discussion about whats acceptable or not is just ridiculous. Eg before a soccer game, two teams come together before the start of the next match to agree on how hard they can foul eachother, before the referee will give them a yellow card. And then they change it the following week, because they didn’t like the outcome. This crazy sport!

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