FIA dismisses request for immediate alterations following the meeting.
The ongoing conflict regarding Formula 1’s controversial driving standards guidelines has entered a new stage in Qatar, with the FIA releasing an official statement after a significant GPDA meeting, but confirming that no alterations will be made for Qatar or Abu Dhabi.
GPDA leaders George Russell and Carlos Sainz have spearheaded the opposition against the Driving Standards Guidelines (DSGs), claiming these rules have turned competitive racing into a bureaucratic formality. Russell stated clearly, "A global sport such as Formula 1, which generates billions in revenue, must invest in permanent stewards." Sainz expressed even stronger sentiments before the meeting, saying, "There’s been a considerable amount of division among drivers, the FIA, and stewards. There is a lot of confusion. The guidelines have created more issues than they’ve resolved. There’s been little room for racing incidents this year - everything feels black or white." He remarked that overtaking maneuvers are being evaluated based on arbitrary criteria - "a tire ahead or behind a mirror" - rather than racing instinct.
After a private review on Thursday, the FIA appreciated the drivers for a "frank" discussion, yet confirmed that the last two races of the 2025 season would proceed with the current interpretation. The governing body characterized the DSGs as a "living document" instigated at the drivers’ request and maintained that data indicates enhanced consistency. The statement also subtly recognized the drivers’ primary demand for experienced former racers to be consistently involved in stewarding. Another point of discussion was a preference for post-race hearings in situations where stewards do not have complete data. However, the key message from the statement was: "No changes will be made for the final two Grands Prix of the 2025 season."
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