Yuki Tsunoda says that Formula 1 drivers are being expected to “drive like AI” in the wake of the raft of penalties dished out over the US GP weekend.
He also compared the situation with the driverless autonomous racing event seen at the Yas Marina track this year.
The RB driver was among those penalised in Austin, in his case for going off track and gaining an advantage when battling with Alex Albon.
“I feel like they are expecting us to drive like a machine, like AI, and try to follow every driving rule, or whatever,” he said.
“In the end we’re doing racing. That’s why people look at it, it’s kind of battling between drivers. We try to fight each other with passion, right?
“And if they we do remove that, it’s just going to be like AI fighting, probably like the one in Abu Dhabi. It’s better to watch that.
“If I remember correctly, other drivers didn’t really complain radio as well. So yeah, for sure, it’s hard. Obviously, it’s been a topic multiple years ago, but hopefully one day we can be aligned a little bit, or at least more closer.”
Tsunoda agreed that the rule about the driver ahead at the apex having priority is not straightforward to police.
“It’s hard, because it depends on how they define that,” he said. “And if I remember correctly, the cars inside or whatever were ahead at the apex, the outside can back off.
“Or the outside car, if he was ahead of the inside car in the apex, he’s the guy who had had priority.
“But in that case it’s better to just launch it into the apex, even you go off track. And try to get it ahead, get the priority and make the corner. So it’s big difference between what we trying to achieve in the corner, and what they [the FIA] are thinking, I think.
“And, yeah, it’s hard to be aligned because, but I think that most important thing is they should think they should hear more for the experienced driver [steward]. I think they have an experienced driver to kind of advise how the situation is. I think the ex-driver should have more rights to say something, to give more decisions.”
