Qatar GP Media Day: McLaren's FIA Claim, Verstappen's Stance, and Driver Rule Changes

Ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, media day brought several major headlines, including McLaren's claim about a potential FIA rule change, Max Verstappen's blunt take on team orders, and Carlos Sainz's innovative proposal for incident reviews. Lewis Hamilton also reflected on his 'nightmare' Ferrari season, while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri discussed their expected disqualifications from the Las Vegas GP.

Why it matters:

• McLaren's Disqualification Impact: The double disqualification of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from the Las Vegas Grand Prix has ignited discussions about the current regulations on skid block wear, potentially prompting an FIA review and affecting future races.
• Championship Dynamics: These events have significantly altered the championship picture, especially for Norris, who saw his points lead over Verstappen shrink dramatically, intensifying the title fight.
• Driver Influence on Rules: Drivers like Carlos Sainz are actively pushing for procedural changes in how incidents are reviewed, highlighting the ongoing effort to improve fairness and transparency in F1 stewarding.

The Details:

• McLaren's FIA Claim: Team Principal Andrea Stella revealed the FIA is investigating a potential rule change regarding skid block wear following Norris and Piastri's disqualifications in Las Vegas. Both cars were found to have excessive wear, exceeding the 1mm tolerance and dipping below the 9mm allowance.
• Verstappen on Team Orders: Max Verstappen lauded McLaren's decision not to impose team orders on Oscar Piastri. He humorously stated he would tell a team to "f-off" if asked to cede a position in a similar scenario, emphasizing the importance of fair competition between teammates. This stance came after Norris's points advantage over Verstappen was reduced from 42 to 24 following the disqualifications.
• Sainz's Review Proposal: Carlos Sainz suggested integrating insights from TV pundits into the FIA's incident review process. He believes that the detailed analysis shown on broadcast could offer valuable perspectives to stewards, aiming to enhance the accuracy and understanding of decisions.
• Hamilton's Ferrari Reflection: Lewis Hamilton declared "no regrets" about his move to Ferrari, despite what he termed a "nightmare" first season. In Las Vegas, he recorded his career's slowest qualifying pace but recovered to an eighth-place finish after the McLaren disqualifications.
• McLaren's 'Expected' Disqualification: Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris confirmed that their disqualifications from the Las Vegas Grand Prix were not a "complete shock" and were largely "expected" due to the visible wear on their skid blocks. Piastri mentioned a "very brief discussion" within McLaren about potentially implementing team orders to aid Norris in the title fight, but it was ultimately not pursued.

What's Next:

The ongoing discussions surrounding rule changes and incident reviews highlight a dynamic period for Formula 1's regulatory framework.

• The FIA's investigation into skid block regulations could lead to clearer guidelines or adjustments, impacting car design and setup for future seasons.
• The drivers' push for more transparent and informed stewarding suggests a collaborative effort to refine race control procedures.
• As the season progresses, the impact of these discussions on race outcomes and championship battles will be closely watched, particularly as the fight for the title intensifies following McLaren's points deduction.