FIA evaluate of Abu Dhabi F1 controversy began this week

The FIA’s evaluate of Method 1’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale has began and needs to be concluded by early February, based on stories.

F1’s title decider was marred by the way in which a late security automobile arrange a final-lap shootout between championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, which allowed Verstappen to make use of contemporary smooth tyres to move Hamilton, who had led your complete race comfortably.

Mercedes protested the outcome primarily based on two procedural infringements from FIA race director Michael Masi that associated to letting solely the 5 lapped automobiles between Hamilton and Verstappen unlap themselves earlier than the race restart, and the timing of the restart – which might not have come earlier than the tip of the grand prix had the rules been adopted.

The FIA stewards rejected Mercedes’ protest and some days later the authorized facet of the difficulty was formally dropped when Mercedes opted to not decide to an attraction into that call.

Nevertheless, that was performed following the FIA’s promise of a “detailed evaluation and clarification train” that supposed “to attract any classes from this case and readability to be supplied to the individuals, media, and followers in regards to the present rules to protect the aggressive nature of our sport whereas guaranteeing the protection of the drivers and officers”.

There was no element on when the method would start or how it will be carried out and the matter was difficult by a change in FIA presidency from Jean Todt to Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The FIA has additionally not issued any official updates since, whereas Ben Sulayem was reluctant to remark in his first media look within the function shortly earlier than Christmas.

This week it emerged that Hamilton’s F1 future stays unsure till the end result of the FIA evaluate, with the implication being that strain is being placed on the FIA to cease taking a passive stance on the matter.

That seems to have triggered a response from the FIA, with stories – which The Race understands to be correct – subsequently rising that the method lastly started on Monday this week and that Ben Sulayem has made it a lead precedence.

The FIA promised that “any recognized significant suggestions and conclusions be made earlier than the start of the 2022 season” and the following assembly of the World Motor Sport Council on February 3 is claimed to be the deadline.

It will allow any related suggestions to be tabled and mentioned in time to be ratified forward of pre-season testing.

FIA secretary common for motorsport Peter Bayer (pictured beneath alongside Ross Brawn), who additionally heads up its single-seater issues, and new deputy president for sport Robert Reid are prone to be key figures within the evaluate.

Bayer was namechecked by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in December as giving him “assurances” the FIA would make modifications to “shut gaps which have opened up an increasing number of over the previous few years”.

Although the high-stakes nature of what occurred across the dealing with of the protection automobile make it the headline merchandise for the FIA’s evaluate, the scrutiny goes past the precise occasions of Abu Dhabi.

There was rising dissatisfaction amongst F1 groups over the way in which guidelines are enforced, significantly for the reason that late Charlie Whiting handed away and was succeeded by Masi as race director, with Nikolas Tombazis main the FIA’s technical division.

The FIA’s administrative construction listed Masi and Tombazis as answerable for FIA single-seater issues till a reshuffle put that below Bayer’s remit for 2022.

However there was no indication from the FIA whether or not Masi will proceed in what seems to be an untenable place as race director, or whether it is appropriate that Tombazis’s function could also be in danger as effectively.

The BBC reported each Masi and Tombazis could should be changed to placate Mercedes, with Tombazis below scrutiny due to the 4 small however vital aerodynamic rule modifications that Mercedes feels have been introduced in for 2021 to curb its dominance, and which angered Aston Martin.

That’s one thing Wolff referred to final 12 months when he criticised the way in which the FIA has been governing F1 in latest occasions, stating: “We’re held ransom by advert hoc selections in each discipline – technical and sporting.”

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