Sportsmanship and the Frustration of Watching the Rulebook Bend

If you know me at all, you know that sport plays a big role in my life. I’ve always loved moving, competing, and challenging myself. I used to be on the Dutch national judo team — and while that chapter of my life is behind me, I still live actively and try to get out there as often as I can.

But when I’m not doing sport, I love watching it. Formula 1 is one of the few sports that continues to captivate me weekend after weekend. I’ve followed it for years, and I enjoy it not just for the speed or the spectacle, but because of what it represents: high performance, strategic precision, and a fair fight at the edge of control.

Which is exactly why this past weekend’s Grand Prix in Canada left me frustrated.

Gamesmanship or Sportsmanship?

Let’s talk about George Russell. During a safety car phase, he actively hit the brakes — knowing that Max Verstappen would likely overtake him as a result. Under F1 rules, overtaking during a safety car is strictly forbidden unless under specific conditions. So, by baiting Max into overtaking him, Russell was effectively trying to force a penalty.

Let that sink in. A driver, intentionally slowing down to trap a competitor into a rules infraction — not by outdriving him, but by creating a false setup.

For me, that crosses the line. It’s not just clever or cheeky — it’s poor sportsmanship. It’s manipulation. And even worse: nothing happened. No penalty. No warning. The stewards didn’t even want to open a conversation about it. Red Bull filed a complaint, but it was brushed aside. Russell went on to celebrate the race like it was just another day at the office.

I can’t help but feel like that sends the wrong message to fans, especially younger ones watching and learning about competition.

When Penalties Become Politics

Then came the crash between the two McLarens — Lando Norris rear-ended his teammate Oscar Piastri during a messy overtaking attempt and ended up crashing into the wall himself. It was a miscalculation, plain and simple.

But here’s the part I don’t understand: Lando received a five-second penalty after he’d already retired from the race. The implication being: yes, he was at fault. And yet, nothing further happened.

This inconsistency is what makes it so difficult to trust the system. In other races, a similar maneuver results in a three-place grid drop or even penalty points. But here? A small slap on the wrist — and that too, only symbolically.

It leads to the kind of speculation you hear from fans and commentators: are British drivers treated differently by the stewards? Is there unconscious bias? Is the FIA prioritizing entertainment over fairness?

Personally, I don’t think it’s a nationality issue. But I do think it’s about narrative. Certain drivers are seen as heroes. Others as disruptors. And when storytelling starts to creep into officiating, you’ve got a serious problem.

Fair Play Isn’t Optional

Here’s what I believe: you can be an aggressive driver. You can take risks. You can even cause a crash — this is racing, after all. But there have to be clear, consistently applied consequences. Otherwise, drivers stop knowing what the rules are. And fans start to lose faith in the sport.

In life, as in sport, fairness matters. Not perfection — but clarity, and a sense that the same rules apply to everyone. When that breaks down, trust erodes quickly.

Still a Fan — But Asking Questions

Despite all this, I still love the sport. I still tune in every weekend. This season has been the closest and most unpredictable in years — especially beyond the two McLarens, who currently seem miles ahead of everyone else. Behind them, the battle between Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari has made for incredible racing. It’s what keeps me coming back.

But moments like this weekend’s make me pause. If F1 wants to maintain its integrity, it needs to take these moments seriously. The stewards can’t keep hiding behind the ambiguity of rulebooks or the convenience of post-race silence.

I hope the FIA reflects on this, and I hope more fans and journalists push for transparency. Because what’s at stake isn’t just who wins the race — it’s the credibility of the competition itself.