Frederic Vasseur has expressed his reluctance to support further alterations to the F1 penalty system, following Kevin Magnussen’s driving at the Miami Grand Prix, which attracted attention and sparked debate about the current approach.
Vasseur, the team principal for Ferrari, dismissed suggestions that the FIA super licence penalty points system requires modification in light of Magnussen accruing five such penalties during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
He maintained skepticism towards arguments advocating for a review of the penalty approach, stating that altering it would be “nonsensical.”
During the Miami event, Magnussen faced scrutiny from the stewards on multiple occasions. In the sprint race, his aggressive defensive maneuvers against Lewis Hamilton resulted in him receiving three penalty points.
Subsequently, he received an additional two points for his involvement in a collision that forced Logan Sargeant out of the Grand Prix.
These penalties brought Magnussen’s total points to 10 out of a possible 12, nearing the threshold for a race ban. If he accumulates the maximum allowable points before the conclusion of the 2024 season, he will be required to sit out a race.
In response to inquiries from the media regarding Magnussen’s tactics during the sprint race, Vasseur stated, “The stewards have the tools on the table. They can give for each infraction two [FIA super licence] points penalty.”
“If he’s doing 10 seconds [worth of time penalties] again and again and again, four times two points, he’s out, he added, in reference to the system which allows for 12 such points.
“They have everything on the table. We don’t have to try to change the rule again. That makes no sense to me to change that – we have enough with what we have today.”
Magnussen’s defensive maneuvers have drawn attention from the F1 community earlier this season as well.
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Haas driver intentionally slowed down the pack behind him to assist his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, in gaining an advantage significant enough to pit without losing position. This strategic move resulted in Hulkenberg earning a point in Jeddah.
A similar tactic was employed by Magnussen in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, where he accumulated 35 seconds’ worth of penalties while Hulkenberg garnered two additional points. By the conclusion of the Grand Prix weekend, Magnussen’s total penalties amounted to over a minute.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella criticized the Danish driver’s conduct, suggesting that Magnussen should “spend a weekend at home” following his unsportsmanlike behavior.
Despite facing scrutiny from the stewards, Magnussen was not subjected to further punishment. However, he expressed his disapproval of racing in such a manner.
When asked about Stella’s remarks, Frederic Vasseur commented, “I didn’t pay too much attention to what happened yesterday [during the sprint] – I was focused on my guys.”
“But then, at the end the stewards have the system of the penalty points, that if someone is doing something wrong, one, two, three times they can always penalise him by a time penalty and points [on their FIA super licence].
“It’s up to them to do it. I don’t want to take their job, I have enough to do with mine.”
