Are decisions consistent enough?

Posted by poch1991@jourrapide.com on September 10th, 2019

The problem to me is the stewarding is inconsistent - a point Hamilton made after the race.

The stewards have a difficult job to do, they take it seriously and they try to do it as best they can. But at times, from the outside, it can feel like decisions aren't based on racing, but on the likely popularity of the decision with the masses.

Back in China, Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat - nicknamed 'the torpedo' after a series of incidents a few years ago - was handed a whopping drive-through penalty in China for what appeared to be a pure racing incident when he collided with both McLarens on the opening lap.

Would Leclerc have received the same penalty? I doubt it.

The fact is, Leclerc is a very popular driver. In fact, I've never known a more popular front-runner and now race-winner in my time than the young Monegasque driver. Has that, plus the fact he drives a red car, had a bearing on the result this weekend?

In Canada, I applauded the FIA for sticking to its guns - and the rulebook - when handing Sebastian Vettel a penalty for a breach of rules when he rejoined the track after going off and impeding Hamilton.

But since then the demand from the teams and drivers to 'let them race' - which is also popular with the fans - has led to a problematic situation where it's hard to predict what their next decision will be, and where consistency can seem to be in short supply.

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