The farcical scenes during yesterday’s formation laps which delayed the start of the race by almost an hour prompted criticism from several drivers.

Grand Prix Drivers Association director Carlos Sainz Jnr was among those questioning why Formula 1 committed itself years ago to rules which have proved so problematic.

“[F1] needs to have a hard look at themselves and see how we ended up in this situation,” he said after the race. “It is clear the regs are extremely complicated for the drivers, for the teams, for the power units, for the manufacturers. It is too complicated.

“Again, my only question mark is who five years ago decided that this was the direction to go?”

F1 confirmed its current engine regulations in 2022, though the majority of the changes were substantially agreed before then. Mohammed Ben Sulayem became FIA president in December 2021.

Sainz’s father, multiple world rally champion Carlos Sainz, considered opposing Ben Sulayem in last year’s election, but chose not to. Ben Sulayem won re-election and subsequently moved to end presidency term limits, allowing him to serve as president as long as he likes.

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