After an in depth investigation into the dealing with of the protection automobile restart eventually 12 months’s season finale, an F1 Fee assembly is ready to learn of its findings and the responses that shall be made.
The second comes after weeks of criticism from followers about the best way that F1 race director Michael Masi appeared to disrespect the rulebook in the best way he chosen which backmarkers might unlap themselves on the finish, after which received the race underway one lap earlier than the foundations specified.
These choices put Max Verstappen within the good spot to make use of his recent tyre benefit to overhaul Lewis Hamilton on the ultimate lap of the Abu Dhabi race and seize the win that secured him the championship.
Whereas the FIA blamed the size of the controversy the occasions precipitated on a ‘misunderstanding’ by followers and media, the outcry over the occasion has not died down since and debate round it stays intense.
Solely final week, the #F1xed hashtag was trending once more as a radio dialog between Pink Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and Masi resurfaced and went viral on social media.
The FIA promised as a part of its investigation to seek the advice of with all drivers and groups to attempt to put in place a regulatory framework that might forestall repeat controversies sooner or later.
Doubtless modifications embrace a restructuring of race management, with the race director being given extra help to make sure that he isn’t overwhelmed in his duties.
It’s unclear, nevertheless, if Masi will stay in his position for the 2022 season or shall be changed.
Moreover, F1 has been clear that the open radio conversations between groups and race management must be stopped to stop the extreme lobbying that Masi was topic to at occasions final season.
Michael Masi, Race Director
Photograph by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Pictures
The FIA can be extremely more likely to make clearer processes for finishing the race below the protection automobile, with it clear that Masi’s need to not end the finale below yellow triggered his name to restart the occasion.
Final December, the FIA promised ‘readability’ to the members, followers and media concerning the laws, however it’s unclear how a lot of its Abu Dhabi investigation shall be made public – or certainly if something shall be communicated instantly.
Attributable to F1’s governance construction, any proposals put ahead and agreed within the F1 Fee assembly as we speak will nonetheless must be ratified by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council that meets on the eve of the season opener in Bahrain subsequent month.
Nonetheless, how the FIA responds to the occasions of Abu Dhabi shall be a key take a look at for brand spanking new president Mohammed ben Sulayem, who might properly discover his tenure is outlined by the response that’s made.
For nevertheless a lot the FIA might hope that the Abu Dhabi controversy might have light away from the fan consciousness over the winter, any weak or hidden response from the governing physique would nearly sure fire up fan discontent and put a cloud over the beginning of the 2022 season.
It’s going to even be fascinating to see if the FIA admits that errors had been made in the best way the Abu Dhabi GP was dealt with.
The end result of the report will even be crucial for Hamilton and his Mercedes staff, who’ve been fairly silent on issues because the finish of final 12 months.
Hamilton has been weighing up his F1 future based mostly on the end result of the FIA response, whereas Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made clear final 12 months that he would maintain the governing physique ‘accountable’ for its actions in Abu Dhabi.
However whereas the main target of the FIA’s report to groups shall be concerning the occasions of Abu Dhabi, it’s clear there stays unease about plenty of facets of its working of the game final 12 months.
Even earlier than the controversy of the ultimate spherical, there had been considerations a few lack of consistency over penalty choices, and confusion over racing guidelines.
McLaren staff boss Andreas Seidl instructed at his staff’s automobile launch final week that new processes must be launched to raised permit the FIA to confess to errors after which be capable to tackle them.
“One of many beauties of the game, not simply on the staff facet but additionally the FIA facet in the case of the execution of races, is that it’s a human sport,” defined Seidl.
“So we have to settle for errors can occur on the staff facet, but additionally the FIA facet – and errors can occur once more.
“For me it is extremely essential that we additionally talk about that there’s a mechanism the place, in case you are within the place that errors occur, you really increase your hand, admit them, and have a mechanism in place in an effort to appropriate the results that such errors or controversies might have.
“That’s as essential as attempting to keep away from comparable controversies within the first place.”