Magnussen escapes punishment, but race management calls for rule review

May 5, 2024 10:37

Kevin Magnussen breathed a sigh of relief at the Formula 1 Miami GP weekend. Despite receiving three ten-second penalties for exceeding track limits and gaining an undue advantage against Lewis Hamilton, the Haas driver was acquitted of unsportsmanlike conduct.

After the race, Magnussen admitted that the tactic used in Miami had already been employed in Saudi Arabia to benefit his teammate Nico Hulkenberg. The Dane did not contest the penalties, but his comments and the driving itself led to a call from the commissioners to analyze the conduct.

The stewards’ report revealed that Magnussen believed he was within the rules and accepted the punishments as standard for this type of infraction. He also considered it legitimate to give the cars ahead an advantage and help his teammate.

Despite the driver’s sincerity, the stewards acknowledged disagreement with the way Magnussen drove the Haas. Although they cleared the driver for ‘lack of clear intent to act in an unsportsmanlike manner’, they suggested a rule change for repeat offenders in the same race.

“In the future, commissioners will need to assess whether, in appropriate situations, especially in cases of repeat offences, the penalties imposed for each offense need to be increased to discourage scenarios such as those we encounter today,” the report concludes.

The decision divided opinions. While Magnussen remains unpunished, the race management in Miami calls for a review of punishments for repeated infractions, and McLaren boss Andrea Stella considers that the driver should reflect on his conduct.

F1MANIA.NET follows the Miami GP ‘in loco’ with journalists Victor D. Berto and Rodrigo França.

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