Drivers say FIA’s rulebook is fundamentally broken, and many are muzzled

F1 drivers are increasingly muzzled about a rulebook they deem fundamentally broken. At Miami, Lance Stroll said the current cars “destroy racing,” while others hint they’re contractually barred from speaking out. The issue won’t be addressed until at least 2030.

Why it matters:

Driver feedback is a key safety and competition check; silencing them erodes credibility. With the core rules locked through 2029, any meaningful performance boost is limited to minor tweaks, risking fan disengagement.

The details:

• Stroll, after Alonso’s press conference, called the current cars “fundamentally flawed” and said they’re “destroying racing.”
• He warned that some drivers can speak, but others are contractually prohibited from criticizing the FIA.
• Key regulations – lift‑and‑coast, cost‑cap limits and the “super‑clipping” rule – stay unchanged through 2029, leaving only marginal tweaks.
• Max Verstappen echoed Stroll, saying early driver input could have avoided the current design dead‑ends.

What's next:

The first major rule overhaul can’t happen until the 2030 season, leaving a five‑year window for only incremental fixes. If the FIA now brings drivers into the process, future regulations could finally match the performance fans expect.