Ahead of the 2022 season which comprises 23 races, the FIA has made some changes in the rulebook in the penalties section.
Formula 1 is set to experience a complete restart in the 2022 season. Apart from the 18-inch tyre, technical changes to the car, the FIA has also made some changes in the rulebook in the penalties section.
It is known that the stewards can issue warnings if the drivers show any carelessness on the track. Until the 2021 season, the drivers were given two reprimands before a serious consequence followed with the third one.
Now, the FIA has decided to ease the reprimands on drivers following the 23-race calendar for 2022. From the upcoming season, the drivers will be given four warnings instead of two before a serious consequence take place. Thus the drivers will have a total of five reprimands.
However, there is one condition. Four of these five warnings must be because of so-called driving infringements, i.e. for misconduct on the track.
FIA wants to reduce the risk
The FIA has introduced the change in rules in light of the increased number of races on the calendar. When the three-warning rule was introduced, a season only comprised 17 races. Now that there are 23-races in one season, the risk of a driver entering the dangerous zone of the track is higher.
In the previous season, eleven of the 20 regular drivers were given warnings. Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Esteban Ocon were each given two warnings.
Although the racers have to be more cautious with penalty points. If 12 penalty points have been collected by a driver within 12 months, it automatically bans the driver from the race
Ahead of the new season, some drivers are already almost at the edge. With Yuki Tsunoda (8), Sergio Perez (7) and Max Verstappen (7), three drivers from the Red Bull squad are at the top end of the list.
