Albers: FIA 'not adequate' for F1

      Formula 1’s governing body is under significant scrutiny following a tumultuous Mexican GP, with drivers, team leaders, and analysts criticizing the inconsistent officiating and a dangerous incident involving track marshals.

      The most concerning moment occurred when Liam Lawson narrowly missed hitting marshals who had run onto the track. "Oh my God, are you kidding me?" exclaimed the Racing Bulls driver over the team radio. "I could have f***ing killed them."

      The FIA released a statement explaining how such an oversight could happen in an era where safety is a priority. "Once it was clear that Lawson had pitted, the orders to send out marshals were revoked, and a double yellow flag was displayed in that area. We are still looking into what happened afterward."

      This incident escalated frustration over another FIA decision—deploying a Virtual Safety Car just two laps from the finish while Max Verstappen was closing in on Charles Leclerc for second place. Williams driver Carlos Sainz had spun out and retired due to smoke from his car, but replays indicated he was already behind barriers on a slow section of the circuit.

      Dr. Helmut Marko referred to it as "a late farewell gift" from Sainz to his former team, Ferrari.

      The FIA once again defended its actions, stating, "As is standard protocol when marshals are sent to recover a vehicle, the race is neutralized— in this case, a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed until the car was relocated to a safe area behind the barriers. The VSC concluded as soon as the car was secure, and the race finished under green-flag conditions."

      Critics dismissed this justification after onboard footage revealed Sainz driving behind the barriers himself. The FIA later shared a helicopter image to support their claim that his car was still partially exposed.

      Former F1 driver Christijan Albers told De Telegraaf that the decision "ruined" the race's conclusion. "I’ve never seen anything like it. You want a competitive finish on the last lap. What is this? I really don’t want to hear any explanation from the FIA anymore—I haven’t even bothered to read it. Those reports don’t interest me."

      He labeled the smoke reasoning as absurd. "When you shut off a Formula 1 car, it always emits a little smoke," he remarked, adding that the situation with Lawson was the one that actually justified a safety car.

      Albers indicated that inconsistent officiating has become a crucial issue this season. "Which race this season has been well-managed by the FIA? When has it gone smoothly?" he questioned. "They struggle to take criticism. They’re quick to impose penalties and provide lengthy explanations, yet they never acknowledge their mistakes or outline how they plan to improve. This is disheartening."

      "The FIA generates substantial revenue—these kinds of blunders shouldn’t occur," he emphasized. "Did you witness the chaos at the start and how long it took to show the footage? It was a complete mess."

      Drivers were similarly outraged. George Russell expressed frustration that cars cutting corners at the start faced no repercussions. "In the end, those who abided by the rules were the real losers," he stated.

      Aston Martin representative Mike Krack mentioned that Fernando Alonso was "very angry" regarding the inconsistent rulings. "At Turn 1, it often seems like everyone does whatever they please," he noted. "I understand the FIA's hesitation to make mistakes, but it’s challenging—and it doesn’t play out the same way at every track."

      Alonso himself was sarcastic, saying, "Well, corner-cutting is acceptable now, right? You can take evasive action to avoid contact—that’s fine—but you can’t go flat-out and gain two or three positions. We’ll just try to capitalize on it next time."

      Lewis Hamilton also criticized the FIA after receiving a time penalty while Verstappen faced no penalty for a similar maneuver. "I’m very disappointed with the governing body," he remarked. "There’s a clear double standard—everyone can see it. But it is what it is."

      Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur concurred, saying, "That wasn’t managed properly. I’m not suggesting that penalties should differ by circuit, but you need to be aware of what you’re doing. Those ten seconds cost us P4."

      In conclusion, Albers summarized, "It’s always something. Every weekend brings confusion, inconsistency, or delays. This is simply not acceptable for Formula 1."