Rivalry is usually seen as something between drivers and teams. But there is another battle that is at least as decisive: the ongoing tension between teams and the regulator, writes Claire Dubbelman in her column for FORMULE 1 Magazine. Dubbelman was the deputy FIA race director at all F1 races until last season. “I sometimes find it frustrating to hear that rules are supposedly ‘stupid’ or that penalties are too heavy. Because it’s not that simple.”
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The full column by Claire Dubbelman can be read in the latest edition of FORMULE 1 Magazine. Read a short passage from the column below.
“Because I experienced the decision-making process up close, it is sometimes frustrating to hear that rules are supposedly ‘stupid’ or that penalties are too heavy. Because it’s not that simple. Rules never arise unilaterally. Whether it concerns a technical rule or sporting penalties: every proposal goes through several rounds of voting in which a majority of the teams must agree.
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The interests of teams and the FIA are naturally different. The FIA must be neutral, watch over safety, and strive for stability, with a long-term view of the sport. Teams represent innovation and performance; they look for every permitted advantage. In the F1 Commission, those worlds come together. Teams want room for interpretation, while the FIA specifically wants clarity to prevent discussions and inconsistency.
That is exactly where the rivalry arises. A rule that the FIA deems necessary for safety or a level playing field can feel to teams like a restriction of innovation or a disadvantage compared to competitors. It doesn’t mean anyone is wrong; they are simply two logical perspectives within one ecosystem.”
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