Gasly gets support: 'Should only be penalty points for reckless driving'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Pierre Gasly is under considerable pressure. With 10 penalty points on his licence, the Frenchman is getting very close to a suspension. Gasly is therefore calling for changes to the system. He also gets support from several colleagues in this regard.
During the press conference before the Brazilian Grand Prix, Gasly called it "embarrassing" that he is close to having a race suspension. When a driver has accumulated 12 penalty points, he is not allowed to participate in the next race. You would think Gasly would have nothing to worry about with only two races left this season, but his next two penalty points do not expire until May 2023. That would mean the Frenchman would have to be very careful in the first few months of the new season.
The penalty points system does not always seem to be entirely fair. For example, a driver gets two penalty points when speeding during a yellow flag on the track, but also when causing a crash with another driver.
Penalty points only for dangerous driving
Gasly is therefore also getting support from other drivers. "Sometimes the punishment does not match the crime. This is the case with Pierre. There should only be penalty points for reckless and dangerous driving," George Russell is quoted by Auto, Motor und Sport.
Alexander Albon also agrees: "I think I have three points on my licence, and they're down to track limits, which is something which is not dangerous at all. I'm not harming any other driver or myself in that situation. I think I've got another two points for collision with Stroll in Jeddah, which I think at the end of the race, we, as drivers we deemed wasn't my fault," the Williams driver says during the press conference ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Gasly therefore hopes the FIA will find a solution for the 2023 season.