FIA Drivers’ Committee delivers driving standards guidelines for circuit racing championships

Document to provide a consistent reference point for drivers and officials around the world

Following analysis and consultation between drivers, officials and stewards over the past year, a set of Driving Standards Guidelines has been produced by the FIA Drivers’ Committee in partnership with the FIA’s Circuit Commission and Safety Department.

The guidelines will apply to all categories of circuit racing from grassroots to World Championship competitions, providing for the first time a globally consistent reference point to support not only drivers as they develop throughout their careers, but also the Race Officials and Stewards.

The FIA Drivers’ Committee – made up of a broad range of experienced current and former drivers – have worked closely with experts across the championships and competitions for their input and feedback to shape the creation of this document. It covers a number of key topics, from driving standards to defending and overtaking manoeuvres, track limits, yellow flags, driver advisors and safety car re-start procedures. It will eventually also be used to assist with the training of young drivers applying for their first international licence.

This project has been welcomed by some of the world’s top driving talents, with the need for as consistent and fair decision making as is possible within a framework that allows for close, exciting racing identified as the key objective.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team driver and Double FIA Formula 1 World Champion, said: “Promoting driving standards across motorsport is vitally important. I’ve been in my fair share of on-track battles throughout my 23-years of racing in multiple categories of motorsports. Each battle requires an understanding and respect between fiercely competitive racers.  We need consistency in how drivers attack and defend on the race track, as well as how the rules are interpreted during all competitions. I want to promote clean driving for the current racing generation, and the upcoming racers who are learning their craft and wanting to have professional careers in the future. Everyone has a responsibility to enjoy racing but do it fairly. The FIA’s new Drivers’ Standards Guideline will be crucial.”

Four-time FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Champion and three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Toyota Gazoo Racing FIA World Endurance Championship driver Brendon Hartley said; “Many endurance racing drivers take part in different series and races around the world in addition to their main programme in WEC. It is therefore particularly important for us to have a universal set of guidelines for different series to adopt, so that no matter where we race, we can expect the same respect between the drivers on track, but also the same approach in terms of race direction, stewarding, track limits and so on.”

Ronan Morgan, President of the Drivers’ Committee, formerly known as the Drivers’ Commission, explained: “As the governing body of international motor sport, the FIA is responsible for a wide variety of circuit racing championships around the world. Consistently policing them all can therefore be a complicated task.

“The objective behind these new Driving Standards Guidelines is to streamline and standardise the protocols in those championships, by forming the basis for decisions made by event officials. We want to incentivise overtaking while clamping down on dangerous defending and minimise any ‘grey areas’ that may previously have caused confusion. The guidelines similarly stress the importance of strictness in applying the rules in the lower formulae in particular – something that we believe is essential when it comes to junior driver development and safeguarding the future of our sport.”

The Guidelines will be presented to the World Motor Sport Council and from 1 January 2025, they will be integrated within Appendix L of the International Sporting Code.