Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: FIA

  • FIA & Formula E sign extension to power series till 2048

    Formula E and the FIA have agreed a 10 year extension to the continued promotion and exclusivity of the all-electric single-seater category.

    The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced a significant multi-year extension to its agreement with Formula E Holdings Limited (majority owned by Liberty Global) for the continued promotion of the FIA Formula E World Championship within the all-electric single-seater category.

    The agreement solidifies Formula E’s bright future at the forefront of International motorsport. It provides a powerful platform to accelerate the Championship’s growth trajectory, attract further investment, scale its global impact and pave the way for sustainable innovation in the wider automotive sector,

    Under current plans, Formula E is set to continue its ambitious and phased development strategy for its racing cars, delivering faster top speeds, greater acceleration, enhanced aerodynamics and improved tyre performance to continue producing some of the closest and most competitive racing in the world motor sport.

    The extension of the agreement governing the FIA Formula E World Championship is a fantastic outcome for the sport and a clear reflection of our ongoing strategy at the FIA to foster long-term stability, innovation, and growth across all areas of motorsport. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and technological progress, which are all central to the Championship’s unique identity and purpose. It also aligns with our broader goal of increasing global participation and driving more accessible motorsport for all. We are delighted to be continuing this journey with Formula E, and I look forward to seeing it grow even further, both on and off the track, in the years to come.
    Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of FIA.

    We’ve believed in Formula E since day one, and this extension reaffirms our confidence in where it’s headed. This is the motorsport of the future – a championship that combines the very latest technology, close-combat racing, and a mission that really matters. With the FIA’s continued backing, we can now take the next big steps – scaling the sport, growing its global fanbase, and continuing to push the boundaries of what electric racing can achieve. With this new agreement in place, Formula E is now positioned better than ever to define the future of motorsport – more innovative, more inclusive, more sustainable – and to inspire the next generation of fans, drivers, and partners around the world.
    Mike Fries, CEO at Liberty Global.

    Formula E’s growth since its inception has been nothing short of extraordinary, with hundreds of millions of fans and world-class teams and drivers deciding to choose highly competitive electric racing. This long-term extension of the partnership enables us to continue building the brand, investing in the product and delivering some of the most captivating racing that has made us famous. With this long-term extension, the opportunity that Formula E now has to impact world motorsport will be truly transformational.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO at Formula E.

  • F1 Race Director, Niels Wittich to step down

    FIA Formula 1 Race Director, Niels Wittich has left his role with immediate effect.

    Wittich has been in the job since 2022, initially sharing it with Eduardo Freitas as dual replacements for Michael Masi before taking on the job full time in 2023.

    But, the FIA announced Wittich had stepped down and will be replaced by Rui Marques he started from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

    Marques has significant motorsport experience, having been a track marshall, scrutineer, national and international steward, Deputy Race Director and Race Director in various championships.
    Recently, he was Formula 2 and Formula 3’s Race Director.

    The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities. Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as Race Director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future.
    The FIA in a statement.

  • Fastest lap point to be scrapped in 2025

    The fastest lap point is to be dropped from the 2025 season following a meeting of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.
    They convened on Thursday before USA Grand Prix with minor changes to the existing Sporting and Technical regulations being approved.

    Chaired by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with member joining in person at the FIA offices in Paris and via video conference.

    Changes for the 2025 season include the removal of the bonus point awarded for setting the fastest lap in a Grand Prix, along with an increase in the requirement of fielding a ‘young driver’ during free practice from once per season to twice.

    Meanwhile, a “significant update” to the 2026 regulations was presented, including a reorganisation of the way the regulations are laid out, which will be divided into thematic sections for clarity and consistency and is set to be concluded in the next few months.

    The 2026 Technical Regulations, which were originally approved in June, have been subject to “extensive enhancements” in terms of aerodynamics, thanks to effective collaboration between the FIA, F1 and F1 teams.
    These adjustments will lead to higher car performance “while maintaining management of the wake characteristics to promote close and exciting racing”.

    The regulation changes for Formula 1 in 2026 will ensure the sport remains financially robust and has greater road relevance, alongside the introduction of upgraded safety features that do not compromise exciting racing. My thanks to [F1 President & Chief Executive Officer] Stefano Domenicali for our continued partnership as we progress the first joint strategy for the future of Formula 1.
    Ben Sulayem after the meeting.

  • FIA confirm Formula E Manufacturers’ Title

    The all-electric championship’s governing body is set to introduce an official Manufacturers’ title from the Gen3 Evo era.

    There will be even more to fight for next year, as the FIA is creating the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title for Manufacturers.

    Formula E boasts one of the most impressive and competitive manufacturer line-ups in motorsport and will be home to seven manufacturers from Season 11, including Electric Racing Technologies, Jaguar, Mahindra Racing, Nissan, Porsche, Stellantis and new addition Lola Cars. Between them, they will be powering 11 teams across the grid.

    The scoring for this trophy mirrors that of the Teams’ Championship with points awarded based on the performance of each manufacturer’s two highest-scoring cars in every race.

    So, first place will be awarded 25 points, second place gets 18 points and third gets 15 points, etc. Points for the Julius Baer Pole Position and Fastest Lap are also factored into the totals.

    Formula E had introduced the Manufacturer’s Trophy for Season 10, to celebrate the leading manufacturers in the championship.
    However in a recent World Motorsport Council meeting, it was confirmed that this will be recognised as an official FIA trophy.

    In the WMSC meeting, it was also shared that the Technical Regulations have been updated to allow for the use of four-wheel drive on the Gen3 Evo car in specific scenarios such as qualifying duels, race start and Attack Mode from the 2024 -2025 season onwards.

    I’m thrilled to bring another layer of competition and rivalry to our unique sport, where even more is on the line for the teams and manufacturers. For the first time in our series’ history, manufacturers will be able to compete for the coveted Manufacturers’ Title, where their best performing cars will contribute to a season-long leaderboard. This will enable the best, more efficient and fastest manufacturers to showcase their performance not just on the track, but to the public and consumers of their EVs all around the world.
    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer.

  • FIA unveils regulations for 2026

    Formula 1’s governing body the FIA has unveiled the “agile, competitive, safer and more sustainable” set of regulations that will define the sport from 2026 and beyond.

    Revised aerodynamic regulations will work in tandem with new power unit rules, which include increased battery power and the use of 100% sustainable fuels.

    From 2026 onwards Formula 1 will have:

    • More agile cars, which are 30kg lighter and thus better to battle on track.
    • A redesigned power unit featuring increased battery power and an even split between internal combustion engine and electric power plus the use of 100% sustainable fuels.
    • Active aerodynamics in the form of moveable front and rear wings to allow for closer racing.
    • Increased overtaking opportunities through the introduction of a new system that gives drivers a short burst of additional battery power when within one second of the car in front.
    • Improved safety through stronger structures and even tougher tests.
    • Commitment from a record number of six power unit manufacturers.

    The revised technical regulations have been set out by the FIA, paving the way for them to be revealed before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
    The 2026 regulations are now set to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council on June 28th.

    With this set of regulations the FIA has sought to develop a new generation of cars that are fully in touch with the DNA of Formula 1 – cars that are light, supremely fast and agile but which also remains at the cutting edge of technology, and to achieve this we worked towards what we called a ‘nimble car’ concept. At the centre of that vision is a redesigned power unit that features a more even split between the power derived from the internal combustion element and electrical power. On the chassis side we have managed to reduce the size and weight of the car by 30kg resulting in a much more dynamic car. In addition we are introducing two exciting new features to enhance racing – active aerodynamics to achieve very low drag on the straights and the Manual Override system that will provide drivers with an on-demand burst of battery power when close enough to the car ahead of them. Lighter, more powerful and more focused on driver skill, the 2026 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations have been designed to provide closer racing among drivers, increase the competition between teams and to improve the spectacle. In addition, we have opted for a higher electrical component of the power unit, a more efficient car overall, and fully sustainable fuels, as part of our drive towards a more sustainable future for our sport.
    Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Technical Director.

    Today, the FIA is defining a hugely exciting future for the pinnacle of motorsport with the launch of a comprehensive new set of regulations for the 2026 FIA Formula One Championship and beyond. Following the publication of 2026 power unit regulations two years ago we have we have taken opportunity to redefine the chassis regulations to match the energy requirement of the new power units. Collaborating with our partners at Formula 1 and with the assistance of the sport’s 10 teams and all our stakeholders this represents a unique revision that will ensure our premier championship is even more relevant to what is happening in the world. The power unit regulations have already resulted in a record number of PU manufacturers committing to the sport. And now, in tandem with chassis regulations that provide for lighter, more agile cars featuring innovative aerodynamic solutions, we have created a set of regulation designed to not only improve racing but also to make the championship even more attractive to PU manufacturers, OEMs and existing competitors. The key features of the 2026 F1 Regulations are advanced, sustainability technology and safety. Our aim, together with Formula 1, was to produce a car that was right for the future of the sport’s elite category. We believe we have achieved that goal.
    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

  • Formula E & FIA unveil Gen3 Evo

    Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have revealed the next generation of race car, the new all-electric Gen3 Evo, capable of 0-60mph in 1.82s.

    Leveraging a roster of innovative technical upgrades, the GEN3 Evo unveiled at H.S.H Prince Albert II’s Private Car Collection will debut in Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship where some of the world’s greatest manufacturers and drivers race wheel to wheel in iconic locations around the globe.

    Developed by specialists from Formula E and the FIA, the latest Gen3 Evo edition marks a significant leap in electric racing technology, with acceleration 0-60mph 30% faster than a current F1 car, and 36% faster than then Gen3 car.

    Capable of accelerating nearly a full second faster than its predecessor – the Gen3 – that was the world’s first race car designed for street racing, it sets an even higher standard in performance, sustainability and efficiency.
    Then Gen3 Evo serves as a formidable ambassador for the future of motorsport, embodying cutting-edge advancements and a commitment to environmental responsibility.

    Key technical enhancements for the new Gen3 Evo race car include:

    • The quickest accelerating FIA single-seater race car – capable of 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds.
    • Faster, stronger, more agile – Performance upgrades providing an estimated 2% performance gain from Gen3.
    • Leaner and meaner – An aggressive new body kit designed to be stronger, more robust and more aerodynamic, delivering closer wheel to wheel racing.
    • All wheel driver (AWD) – A first for a Formula E car, available during qualifying duels, race starts and ATTACK MODE. The feature maximises acceleration and control, elevating the thrill of critical race moments and intensifying driver rivalries,
    • Better grip – Optimised all-weather Hankook iON tyres providing 5-10% more grip.

    As part of the technical roadmap of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, all powertrains will be newly homologated for Season 11, allowing manufacturers and their customer teams to implement key learnings and optimisations from Gen3 into their new cars.

    The GEN3 Evo heralds a ground-breaking chapter in the evolution of Formula E, embodying our dedication to innovation and high performance achieved sustainably. Featuring unprecedented acceleration and an advanced aerodynamic design, the car that I had the honour of unveiling in Monaco is set to intensify the thrill of our racing, captivating our drivers and fans around the world with truly superior capabilities and performance.
    Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E.

    The FIA and Formula E have been working hard on the development process of this new GEN3 Evo race car, which represents another significant leap forward in electric racing technology. I would like to thank both FIA and Formula E teams for the hard work which underlines our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable motorsport, while delivering competitive racing.
    Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA.

  • Formula E and FIA to unveil GEN3 Evo car

    Formula E and the FIA have announced that they will unveil the highly-anticipated GEN3 Evo race car on Thursday 25th April during an exclusive evening launch in the build-up to the 2024 Monaco E-Prix.

    As an evolution of the current GEN3 race car – the world’s fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever made – the all electric championship is set to raise the bar even higher with a race car that will be pushed to the limit across Seasons 11 and 12.

    The GEN3 Evo is set to deliver even more dramatic wheel to wheel racing. With improved performance characteristics that will highlight Formula E and FIA’s role in pioneering technology and sustainable motorsport.

    In addition to a revised body kit, a completely new all-wheel drive system and a softer compound of tyres from Hankook are set to provide a significant performance boost for the Formula E cars.

    As we prepare to unveil the GEN3 Evo, we’re not just launching a car; we’re continuing to shape the future of racing. This next iteration not only exemplifies our dedication to innovation and pushing the limits of technology but also enhances our commitment to delivering exhilarating, competitive racing for our fans. We are setting new standards in performance that will intensify on-track rivalries and fan engagement, keeping us at the forefront of global motorsport.
    Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer at Formula E.

  • F1 Academy Drivers to get super licence points

    F1 Academy has announced that the top five classified drivers in the 2024 Drivers’ Standings will get FIA Super Licence points.
    This important development represents recognition of F1 Academy’s competition structure, commitment to driver development and the technical skills required to race in the series.

    The Champion of the 2024 season will receive 10 Super Licence points, while the drivers in second and third place will collect seven and five points respectively. Three points will go to fourth and fifth place gets 1 point.

    A further initiative designed to help strengthen the talent pool in the regions in which F1 Academy races, from this season the series will also introduce Wild Card entries at select races across its calendar.
    Working with race promoters, F1 Academy will identify talented young women from the host region and offer the Wild Card entry for a specific weekend.

    At races where there is a Wild Card entry, reigning Team Champions, Prema Racing, will operate the wild card car in addition to their three cars and offer support and training to the selected driver.
    Further details of Wild Card entries will be announced in due course.

    Not only this, but an additional update has been made to the Sporting Regulations to specify that drivers may only compete in two seasons of F1 Academy.
    The introduction of this rule will ensure that every year there are opportunities for the most talented young women coming through the karting and single seater ranks to compete in the series.

    After a positive inaugural season we are making two significant steps forward for 2024. Our top five drivers receiving FIA Super Licence points is testament to the strength of F1 Academy’s on track proposition and will help fuel their progression as they move up the single seater pyramid. The introduction of the Wild Card entrants will promote regional talent, engage with local communities, and increase the talent pool in the regions in which we race which will be important for our long-term growth and ensure we are creating even more opportunities for women to get involved in our sport.

    Susie Wolff, F1 Academy Managing Director.

  • FIA confirms Tim Maylon as new Sporting Director

    Tim Maylon has been confirmed as the new FIA’s Sporting Director within the Single-Seater department, replacing Steve Nielsen.

    In his new role, Maylon will oversee all sporting matters, including Race Direction and the Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Geneva.
    He will report to Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s Single-Seater Director. Under Maylon’s direction, Niels Wittich will continue in the role of Race Director.

    The Canadian has had a distinguished career within motorsport, which includes a 12 year period with Red Bull Racing, whom he joined when the team was previously Jaguar Racing.
    He helped contribute to Red Bull’s four constructors’ and drivers’ title from 2010 – 2013 as he worked in various engineering roles.

    He went on to work for Sauber Motorsport in 2015, becoming their Head of Track Engineering, before joining BMW Motorsport as a Chief Engineer for its DTM programme in 2016.
    Following two successful years, and one championship, Maylon would then take the roles of both Track Engineering Department Leader and Chief Engineer for BMW’s Formula E team.

    In 2019, he went on to join the FIA as Head of Research and was then appointed to the position of Safety Director in 2021. He also had a key role in the establishment of the ROC and has performed the operational duties of ROC Project Leader since May 2022.

    I am delighted to be taking on the role of Sporting Director. We have already brought significant change to our Race Direction operation with the support of the ROC and I look forward to taking that to the next level. We are also committed to a broad regulatory review of sporting matters, and I look forward to applying a sharper focus to those efforts in the future.

    Maylon on the news.

    I am excited to welcome Tim to the role of Single-Seater Sporting Director. Tim has a wealth of motorsport experience and expertise at the highest level. He will play a major role as we continue to bring rigour to our sporting and regulatory practices and procedures, and he will drive the innovation we have brought to our Race Control operation. Tim has been pivotal in creating a strong synergy between Race Control and the ROC with the introduction of new technology including artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art data analysis and processing systems. He will continue to oversee advances in that area as well as taking the lead on the evolution of FIA sporting regulations.

    Sporting Director, Tombazis.

    With Maylon stepping in as the new Sporting Director, the FIA have confirmed that his predecessor Nielsen will be leaving the organisation at the end of January.

    I’d like to thank the FIA for the opportunity to work on the regulatory side of the sport, which has been a fantastic experience for me over the past year. The FIA team working in Formula 1 are a hugely passionate, dedicated group of people who work incredibly hard to achieve the best outcomes for the sport, and I am sure that the positive work that we have done together already will continue into the future.

    Nielsen on the news.

    It has also been confirmed that Tim Gloss will leave his position as Technical Director at the FIA to take up a position outside of the federation.

    It’s been an honour to work as Technical Director at the FIA and to help shape the future of the sport. I take immense pride and satisfaction from the numerous achievements of the Technical Department during my stint at the FIA. The department boasts a number of highly-talented individuals and I believe the organisation is on a firm footing in terms of technical expertise for the tasks which lie ahead – particularly the introduction of the 2026 regulations. I leave with fond memories of my time with the FIA.

    Goss on the news.

  • FIA approve Andretti entry as 11th F1 team

    The FIA has given Andretti Formula Racing the green light to join the Formula 1 grid, subject to it reaching a commercial agreement with FOM.

    Following months of analysis by the FIA over the expressions of interest to join F1 from 2025 at the earliest, the governing body has finally announced the outcome of its efforts.

    In a statement issued on Monday, it said that Andretti was the only applicant that was being put forward to third and final stage of selection, which involves F1’s commercial rights holders.

    But while the FIA is happy with the Andretti bid and believes it fulfils all the criteria it has laid down, that does not mean the squad will definitely get a place on the grid.

    Andretti now needs to reach a satisfactory commercial deal with FOM, and there has been a known resistance to the field getting expanded beyond 10 team.
    F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali has been consistent that any new team would need to bring a clear added value to the championship.

    F1 teams have to prove they had the sporting, technical and financial capabilities to join the F1 grid, as well as explain plans on sustainability and positive societal impact.

    The FIA was very clear in establishing stringent criteria for entry from the outset of the Expressions of Interest procedure. Our objective, after rigorous due diligence during the application phase, was to only approve prospective entries which satisfied the set criteria and illustrated that they would add value to the sport. The FIA is obliged to approve applications that comply with the Expressions of Interests application requirements and we have adhered to that procedure in deciding that Andretti Formula Racing LLC’s application would proceed to the next stage of the application process. In taking that decision, the FIA is acting in accordance with EU directives on motor sport participation and development. Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only entity which fulfils the selection criteria that was set in all material respects. I congratulate Michael Andretti and his team on a thorough submission. I also want to thank all prospective teams for their interest and participation.

    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

    Andretti Cadillac is honoured that the FIA has approved Andretti Formula Racing’s Expression of Interest for the Formula 1 world championship. We appreciate the FIA’s rigorous, transparent and complete evaluation process and are incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to compete in such a historic and prestigious championship. The formation of this distinctly American team is an important moment of pride for all our employees and fans. We feel strongly that Andretti Cadillac’s deep racing competencies and the technological advancements that come from racing will benefit our customers while heightening enthusiasm for F1, globally. We look forward to engaging with all of the stakeholders in Formula 1 as we continue our planning to join the grid as soon as possible

    Andretti’s statement on the news.

    https://x.com/fia/status/1708863831596757243?s=20

  • FIA confirm teams stayed within the Cost Cap

    All 10 Formula 1 teams have successfully stayed within the Cost Cap, which for 2022 was set at $140m, the FIA announced.

    The Financial Regulations were introduced from the start of the 2021 season in a bit to limit spending and ensure the long-term viability of the championship.

    Teams are required to submit accounts of their annual spending against the Cost Caps for the year by the following March.

    Last year, Williams and Aston Martin were found to be in a ‘procedural breach’ while Red Bull were deemed to have commited a ‘procedural breach and a minor financial overspend (less than 5% of the Cost Cap)’.

    Williams and Aston Martin received financial penalties. Red Bull were handed a more significant fine alongside a reduction in their wind tunnel testing allowance.

    Following the submissions for 2022, the FIA reviewed all reporting documentation submitted by each of the 10 teams and has subsequently issued certificates of compliance to all.

    The review has been an intensive and thorough process, beginning with a detailed analysis of the documentation submitted by the competitors. Additionally, there has been an extensive check of any non-F1 activities undertaken by the teams, which comprised multiple on-site visits to team facilities and careful auditing procedures to assess compliance with the Financial Regulations. The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all Competitors acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process. The FIA also notes that the Financial Regulations are essential to the long-term financial stability of the sport, and that they will continue to be developed and refined based on the findings of each review process both in terms of the regulations themselves, which are written and approved under the FIA Formula 1 governance process, and the way in which they are enforced and policed. The FIA has made and will continue to make significant investments in this department for the collective benefit of the sport.

    The FIA on the cost cap.

  • Domenicali request to FIA on cost cap punishment

    Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali wants the FIA to be handing out sporting sanctions, not financial ones to any team found to be in the breach of the cost cap, amidst rumours of further transgression’s.

    Last season (2022), the FIA handing out certificates of 2021 cost compliance for the 10 Formula 1 teams.
    Seven passed with flying colours, Aston Martin and Williams were called out on procedural breaches, while Red Bull were found guilty of an overspend breach and fined $7 million as well as being docked 10% of their allotted wind tunnel time.

    Should the FIA find any fresh breaches this time around in the 2022 figures, which could reportedly come to pass with three teams said to be heading for a breach, then sporting penalties, like the wind tunnel time portion of Red Bull’s punishment is the route which he wants the FIA to go down.

    The range of penalties on the sporting side available to the FIA is rather broad, including a reprimand all the way up to points deductions or a reduction in the cap ceiling for the offending team.

    And while it claimed at the time Red Bull would feel the pinch of their 10% reduction in wind tunnel time, that has certainly not yet manifested on track. But the impact is expected to show up towards the end of the season.

    If the FIA then is to set a proper deterrent for breaking the boundaries of the cap, then it seems like they made need to dig deeper into penalties to make sure that happens.

    Do you think the FIA needs to hand out sporting sanctions? Let me know!

    I would like the penalty to be sporting in case of infringement, it is something we asked for very clearly. There are three regulations to be respected: sporting, technical and financial. Any infractions must be punished with sporting measures. You can’t go in other directions. Control is in the hands of the FIA. Personally what I have asked is to anticipate as soon as possible the publication of the investigations made by the staff of the FIA.

    Domenicali talking to Autosport.

  • Penalty Points

    Formula 1’s penalty points system is designed to punish drivers for on-track misdemeanours, with 12 points on their Super Licence within a 12 month period resulting in a race ban.

    Seeing as we are now three races in and have a few weeks break until the fourth race, lets see how the 20 drivers sit.

    10 points-

    Pierre Gasly

    • Two points: Expire 22nd May 2023. Causing a collision with Lance Stroll during Spanish Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expire 10th July 2023. Causing a collision with Sebastian Vettel during the Austrian Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expire 10th July 2023. Exceeding track limits during the Austrian Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expire 9th October 2023. Speeding under red-flag conditions at the Japanese Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expire 23rd October 2023. For falling more than 10 car lengths behind the car in front during Safety Car period at the United States Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expire 30th October 2023. For forcing Lance Stroll off the track and gaining an advantage at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

    Six points

    Fernando Alonso

    • Two points: Expire 8th May 2023. For causing a collision with Pierre Gasly during the Miami Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expires 8th May 2023. For cutting the track and gaining a lasting advantage during the Miami Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expires 19th June 2023. For weaving whilst defending during the Canadian Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 12th November 2023. For causing a collision with Esteban Ocon during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

    Five points-

    Alex Albon

    • One point: Expires 22nd May 2023. For exceeding track limits during the Spanish Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expires 29th May 2023. For gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track during the Monaco Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 9th July 2023. For forcing Lando Norris off the track during the Austrian Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expires 23rd October 2023. For going off track and holding onto position during the United States Grand Prix.

    Lance Stroll

    • Two points: Expires 23rd October 2023. For causing a collision with Fernando Alonso during the United States Grand Prix.
    • Three points: Expires 12th November 2023. For a dangerous manoeuvre on Sebastian Vettel during the sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

    Four points-

    George Russell

    • Two points: Expires 10th July 2023. For causing a collision with Segio Perez during the Austrian Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 23rd October 2023. For causing a collision with Carlos Sainz during the United States Grand Prix.

    Yuki Tsunoda

    • Two points: Expires 3rd July 2023. For causing a collision with Pierre Gasly during the British Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 9th September 2023. For failing to slow for yellow flags during FP2 for the Italian Grand Prix.

    Three points-

    Esteban Ocon

    • One point: Expires 29th May 2023. For causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton during the Monaco Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 23rd July 2023. For causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda during the French Grand Prix.

    Kevin Magnussen

    • Two points: Expire 8th May 2023. For causing a collision with Lance Stroll during the Miami Grand Prix.
    • One point: Expires 11th September 2023. For overtaking by leaving the track during the Italian Grand Prix.

    Lando Norris

    • One point: Expires 10th July 2023. For exceeding track limits during the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 13th November 2023. For causing a collision with Charles Leclerc during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

    Zhou Guanyu

    • One point: Expires 10th July 2023. For exceeding track limits during the Austrian Grand Prix.
    • Two points: Expires 23rd July 2023. For causing a collision with Mick Schumacher during the French Grand Prix.

    Sergio Perez

    • Two points: Expire 2nd October 2023. For failing to stay within 10 car lengths of the Safety Car at the Singapore Grand Prix.

    Carlos Sainz

    • Two points: Expire 2nd April 2024. For causing a collision with Fernando Alonso during the Australian Grand Prix.

    Max Verstappen

    • Two points: Expire 13th November 2023. For causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

    One point-

    Charles Leclerc

    • One point: Expires 9th October 2023. For leaving the track and gaining an advantage during the Japanese Grand Prix.

    Zero points-

    Lewis Hamilton

    Valtteri Bottas

    Oscar Piastri

    Logan Sargeant

    Nyck de Vries

  • Ferrari have petitioned for a right of review from Australia

    Ferrari have sent a petition to the FIA with the hope of securing a right of review regarding the penalty handed out to Carlos Sainz during the Australian Grand Prix, team boss Frederic Vasseur has revealed.

    Sainz tipped Aston Martin rival, Fernando Alonso into a spin during a dramatic late restart at Albert Park, which also saw Logan Sargeant run into the back of Nyck de Vries and the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon come to blows.

    While the order was reset to the previous restart ahead of a final lap to the chequered flag behind the Safety Car, news of a five-second time penalty came through for Sainz, prompting a string of frustrated messages from the Spaniard over the radio.

    Sainz initially crossed the line 4th, but with the 5 second time penalty he dropped down to 12th.

    We did a petition for a review of the case – we sent it to the FIA. As we are discussing with the FIA… I don’t want to discuss any details of this discussion. The only thing is [the] Gasly/Ocon [collision], for sure we had also Sargeant/De Vries [colliding] into Turn 1, and the reaction of the stewards was not the same. The process is that first they will have a look on our petition to see if they can re-open the case, then we’ll have a second hearing a bit later with the same stewards for the next meeting, about the decision itself. What we can expect is at least to have an open discussion with them, also for the good of the sport to avoid to have these kind of decisions when you have three cases on the same corner and not the same decision.

    Vasseur on Thursday.

    As per Article 14 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, the competitors can request a right of review up to 14 days after a ruling from the stewards if “a significant and relevant new element is discovered which was unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned”.

    It could be [at the next race] in Baku or it could be before, but [we] prefer to do it before. You have 14 days to do the petition, the request for review, then it’s up to them to decide. They have to do it in a short period, [but] it’s true for once that we have four weeks between the two races [in Australia and Azerbaijan] and it’s a bit more flexible. We have our argumentation, for sure, and I will keep the argumentation for the FIA, as a first step. For sure, we are expecting [a] review of the situation, because it’s a petition for a review. We are not going there to get the same decision.

    Vasseur continued.

  • AM enter agreement with FIA over breach of ’21 Regs

    Aston Martin have entered an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA) with the FIA following a procedural breach of the 2021 Financial Regulations.

    After the submission of financial documents by all 10 Formula One teams, the Cost Cap Administration carried out a review under the Financial Regulations, and Aston Martin were found to be in a procedural breach of the rules – even though their costs during the 2021 reporting period were under the cost cap.

    The Silverstone based team were found to have incorrectly excluded and/or adjusted costs pertaining to the building of their new headquarters, new F1 simulator, wind tunnel fees, R&D tax credit, a signing bonus cost, use of transferable components, used inventories, service desk costs, cost of catering services at their headquarters, costs of desks and chairs, sponsor services and outsourced personnel services.

    The team now must pay a financial penalty of $450,000 within 30 days of the date of execution of the ABA, plus bear the cost incurred by the Cost Cap Administration.

    The Cost Cap Administration recognised that AMR has acted cooperatively and in good faith throughout the review process and has sought to provide additional information and evidence when requested in a timely manner, that this is the first year of the full application of the Financial Regulations and that there is no accusation or evidence that AMR has sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach.

    FIA statement.

    Non-compliance by the team with any terms of the ABA will result in further procedural breach and automatic referral to the cost cap adjudication panel.

  • RB enter agreement with FIA over breach of ’21 Regulations

    Red Bull have entered an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA) with the FIA following a breach of the 2021 Financial Regulations, F1’s governing body have said.

    For the first time in Formula One history, all 10 teams were required to submit their accounts of their annual spending against the Cost Cap for 2021 by the following March. On Friday in Mexico, the FIA announced that Red Bull was found to be in breach.

    The Cost Cap Administration recognised that Red Bull Racing has acted cooperatively throughout the review process and has sought to provide additional information and evidence when requested in a timely manner, that this is the first year of the full application of the Financial Regulations and that there is no accusation or evidence that RBR (Red Bull Racing) has sought at any time to act in bad faith, dishonestly or in fraudulent manner, nor has it wilfully concealed any information from the Cost Cap Administration. In these circumstances, the Cost Cap Administration offered to RBR an ABA to resolve this matter. That offer was accepted by RBR.

    The FIA.

    In the summary, it was revealed Red Bull exceeded the cost cap in 2021, of £118,036,00 by less than 5% by less than 5% ( £1,864.00 or 1.6%) which is a minor breach. The FIA said they acknowledge that had Red Bull applied “the correct treatment within its full year reporting documentation of their Notional Tax Credit within its 2021 submission of a value of £1,431,438” and therefore would have exceeded the cap by $432,652 or 0.37%.

    Regarding sanctions for breaching the cost cap, Red Bull must pay $7 million to the FIA within 30 days of the date of execution of the ABA.

    They also receive a minor sporting penalty in the form of 10% reduction in their allocated Restricted Wind Tunnel Testing and Restricted Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) limits. Based on Red Bull’s championship position, the coefficient used to calculate their allocation will drop from 70% to 63%.

    Non-compliance by Red Bull with any terms of the ABA will result in further procedural breach and automatic referral to the Cost Cap Adjudication Panel.

  • FIA announces cost cap breaches by two teams

    The FIA has announced that two teams have breached the 2021 Financial Regulations, as they announce their review into the regulations.

    According tot the FIA, who released their findings into a cost cap investigation on Monday, Aston Martin are in ‘Procedural Breach’ and Red Bull have committed a Procedural Breach and a Minor Financial Overspend (less than 5% of the cost cap) according to the FIA.

    Williams were found to have made a Procedural Breach on May 2022, that the team then rectified in a “timely, cooperative and transparent manner”.

    Procedural Breaches and Minor Overspend Breaches can result in a financial penalties and/or minor sporting penalties. The following could be penalties for Red Bull-

    • Public reprimand
    • Deduction of Constructors’ Championship points awarded for the Championship that took place within the Reporting Period of the breach.
    • Deduction of Drivers’ Championship points awarded for the Championship that took place within the Reporting Period of the Breach.
    • Suspension from one or more stages of a Competition or Competitions, excluding for the avoidance of doubt the race itself.
    • Limitations on ability to conduct aerodynamic or other testing; and/or reduction of the Cost Cap provided that the reduction specified shall only be applied with respect to the year following the punishment being handed out.

    The review of the Reporting Documentation submitted has been an intensive and thorough process, and all Competitors gave their full support in providing the required information to assess their financial situation during this first year of the Financial Regulations. The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all Competitors acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process. The FIA would also note that with respect to this first year of the application of the Financial Regulations the intervention of the FIA Cost Cap Administration has been limited to reviewing the submissions made by the Competitors and that no full formal investigations were launched. The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin and Red Bull and further information will be communicated in compliance with the Regulations.

    The FIA on the findings.

  • F1 to feature six sprints from 2023

    Plans have been approved for additional Sprint sessions to be staged during the 2023 Formula 1 season and beyond, with the number of events that will feature the format increasing from three to six.

    Sprint sessions were first introduced to F1 in 2021 and proved a popular addition to the usual weekend format, with qualifying moving to Friday and the extra 100km race slotting into Saturday’s schedule to set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

    On Tuesday, the World Motor Sport Council rubber-stamped the move to six Sprint events, with confirmation of the venues at which they will take place to follow in due course.

    Looking at 2021, Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos played host to the first of Sprint events, with Imola, Red Bull Ring and Interlagos selected for this season.

    I am pleased that we can confirm six Sprints will be part of the Championship from 2023 onwards, building on the success of the new format introduced for the first time in 2021. The Sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all fighting for something right from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday, adding more drama and excitement to the weekend. The feedback from the fans, teams, promoters, and partners has been very positive and the format is adding a new dimension to Formula 1, and we all want to ensure its success in the future.

    Formula 1 President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

    The confirmation that six race weekends featuring Sprint will take place from the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season onwards is another example of the continued growth and prosperity at the highest level of motor sport. Thanks to close collaboration with Stefano Domenicali and our colleagues at FOM, we concluded a thorough analysis on the impact of additional Sprint sessions and have adjusted relevant parameters of our work to ensure that they continue to be regulated at the very highest level. Sprint sessions provide an exciting dynamic to the race weekend format and have proven to be popular over the past two seasons – I am sure that this positive trend will continue and am pleased that the World Motor Sport Council has today given its approval for them to go ahead.

    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

  • Race weekend shake-up looming

    Stefano Domenicali insists the controversial ‘sprint race’ format is not the end of his efforts to spice up race weekends in Formula 1.

    Domenicali, F1 CEO, wants the sprint race format to be expanded from three rounds in 2022 to at least six rounds next year. But he also sees other ways to make the weekends more exciting.

    We will address the issue in the next F1 Commission meeting. The fans, the organisers, everyone wants it. The sprint race was just the first example of what could be improved. We are putting a lot of things on the table, many say no, but we have seen on some occasions the beauty of having a reshuffled race. We have an obligation to try, at least.

    Stefano Domenicali.

    As for the 2022 world championship, Formula 1 will almost certainly not get a 2021 style close title finale in Abu Dhabi this year due to Max Verstappen’s dominance.

    But looking into a little more detail on what Domenicali said, will reverse grids actually change anything? Obviously it depends on what tracks, as somewhere like Monaco it would not be beneficial.

    At Spa, Verstappen still won the race by 18 seconds despite starting 14th, he also won the Italian GP from P7, and was set comfortably to do so even if the race had not ended behind the safety car.

    But the question is, will teams who are spending millions to put a fast car on the track agree to the idea of having their car start at the back of the grid to then be taken out? Most definitely not, so I think Domenicali might want to keep on brain storming more ideas…

  • FIA approve PU regulations for 2026

    The FIA World Motorsport Council has approved power unit regulations set to come into effect for the 2026 season with increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels two of the key aspects of the newly-approved rules.

    The 2026 power units will maintain the current V6 internal combustion engine architecture, with the FIA setting out four key pillars of the new regulations, which are:

    • Maintaining the spectacle – the 2026 power unit will have similar performance to current designs, utilising high-power, high-revving V6 internal combustion engines and avoiding excessive performance differentiation to allow for improved raceability.
    • Environmental sustainability – the power unit will include an increase in the development of electrical power to up to 50% and utilise a 100% sustainable fuel.
    • Financial sustainability – financial regulations regarding the power units will reduce the overall costs for competitors whilst retaining the cutting edge technological of Formula 1.
    • Attractive to new power unit manufacturers – the new regulations are intended to make it possible and attractive for newcomers to join the sport at a competitive level.

    The regulations will see the current Motor Generator Unit Heat or MGU-H element removed whilst the power output on the power units’ Energy Recovery Systems will be increased to 350 kilowatts.

    The FIA continues to push forward on innovation and sustainability – across our entire motor sport portfolio – the 2026 Formula 1 Power Unit Regulations are the most high-profile example of that mission. The introduction of advanced PU technology along with synthetic sustainable fuels aligns with our objective of delivering benefits for road car users and meeting our objective of net zero carbon by 2030. Formula 1 is currently enjoying immense growth and we are confident these regulations will build on the excitement our 2022 changes have produced. I want to thank all of the FIA management and technical staff involved in this process for their diligence and commitment in working together with all of our Formula 1 stakeholders to deliver this. I also want to thank our WMSC members for their consideration and approval of these regulations.

    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

    2022 & 2023 porpoising and roll hoop regulations approved-

    The WMSC also approved changes to the 2022 and 2023 Technical Regulations, designed to address both the issue of aerodynamic porpoising and of safety standards for roll hoops.

    With regards to porpoising, it has now been approved that from this months Belgian Grand Prix until the end of the season, there will be changes to re-define the stiffness requirements of the plank and skids around the thickness measurement holes on the cars.

    From 2023, meanwhile the following changes will be made:

    • The floor edges will be raised by 15mm
    • The diffuser throat height will be raised
    • The diffuser edge stiffness will be increased
    • An additional sensor will be mandated to monitor the porpoising phenomenon more effectively.

    Additionally, follow Zhou Guanyu’s crash at the 2022 British Grand Prix, the following changes surrounding safety standards for the roll hoops on F1 cars were also approved to become of the 2023 Technical Regulations:

    • A rounded top will now be required on the roll hoop, which will reduce the chance of it digging into the ground during an incident.
    • A change will be made to ensure a minimum height for the point of application of the homologation test.
    • There will be a new physical homologation test where the load pushes the roll hoop in the forward direction.
    • There will be a definition of new tests, to be carried out by calculation.

  • Season 9 Calendar revealed

    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will expand in Season 9 and the debut of the Gen3 race car to include more E-Prix races in more world cities with more race teams on the Formula E grid than ever before.

    The season 9 provisional calendar was published yesterday by Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) following ratification by the FIA World Motorsport Council and with the support of local ASNs (National Automobile Clubs) for each city.

    The planned schedule for next season which currently features 18 races between January and July 2023 on street circuits in 13 world cities, beating the previous record of 16 races in 10 different cities.

    RoundCountryDate
    Pre Season TestValencia, SpainDec 11th – 14th
    Round 1Mexico City, MexicoJan 14th
    Round 2Diriyah, Saudi ArabiaJan 27th
    Round 3Diriyah, Saudi ArabiaJan 28th
    Round 4Hyderabad, India*Feb 11th
    Round 5TBDFeb 25th
    Round 6TBDMarch 11th
    Round 7 Sao Paulo, Brazil*March 25th
    Round 8Berlin, GermanyApril 22nd
    Round 9MonacoMay 6th
    Round 10Seoul, South Korea*May 20th
    Round 11Seoul, South Korea*May 21st
    Round 12Jakarta, IndonesiaJune 3rd
    Round 13Jakarta, IndonesiaJune 4th
    Round 14TBDJune 24th
    Round 15Rome, ItalyJuly 15th
    Round 16Rome, ItalyJuly 16th
    Round 17London, UKJuly 29th
    Round 18London, UKJuly 30th
    * Subject to circuit homologation.

    From Round 1 in Mexico City to the climax of Season 9 in London, the stage is set for the most successful Formula E season yet. Engineers and sustainability experts at the FIA and Formula E have worked together to build the Gen3, a race car that proves how high performance and sustainability can powerfully co-exist without compromise. We welcome Maserati back to motorsport for the first time in decades alongside McLaren Racing and the incredible roster of teams and manufacturers that makes Formula E unique. We expect Season 9 to continue our momentum of growing the global fanbase for the sport.

    Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer Formula E.

    The Season 9 calendar of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is our most expansive and dynamic racing schedule yet and I cannot wait to get started. We will continue to push the international boundaries of all-electric street racing with E-Prix in Hyderabad and São Paulo, while maintaining the hugely popular races in Diriyah, Mexico City, Berlin, Monaco, Rome and London with Jakarta and Seoul now established on the calendar. We are also working hard to include Cape Town and a race in the USA when the provisional calendar is updated later this year.

    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer.

  • Hamilton responds after Nelson Piquet uses racial slur

    Nelson Piquet, who is the father of Max Verstappen’s partner, Kelly Piquet and a three time F1 world champion was on a podcast last November discussing the collision between Hamilton and Verstappen during the 2021 British GP, when he used a racially offensive expression in Portuguese.

    The comments have only now came to light, and Piquet has been condemned by Formula 1, Hamilton’s Mercedes team and the FIA.

    Let’s focus on changing the mindset. It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.

    Lewis took to social media.

    This isn’t the first time Piquet has made unsavoury and unpleasant statements. During his driving career, he publicly questioned Ayrton Senna’s sexuality and called his rival “the Sao Paulo taxi driver”. As well as this, he made offensive comments about Nigel Mansell and the Briton’s wife when they were team mates at Williams.

    Whether your an ex F1 driver, a junior of a F1 team or just a normal person, using racist language is never the way to go forward. I hope we see something done about this as Lewis shouldn’t be having to deal with this…

  • Should drivers be penalised for causing red flags?

    In recent years, there has been red flags being raised in qualifying after someone crashing but now it seems they are appearing more frequently and not just one per qualifying…

    But recently, Formula 1 drivers are backing a potential FIA initiative to penalise those who trigger red of yellow flags in qualifying, ruining the laps of rivals.

    For a second time this season it had become quite a big talking point, especially after Imola and most recently Azerbaijan. In the latter, Fernando Alonso went down an escape road towards the end of Q1 bringing out a yellow flag and spoiling the laps of anyone behind who might have had the chance of beating the Spaniard.

    Alex Albon who was immediately behind the Alpine driver, made it clear that he thought Alonso had gone off track in a deliberate effort to frustrate his rivals.

    The issue of drivers playing such games, especially at street tracks, made the headline back in 2006 at the Monaco GP. On that occasion, Michael Schumacher was excluded from qualifying after the stewards determined he deliberately stooped in track at Rascasse, effectively ending qualifying early and securing pole position.

    A similar incident occurred at the same venue in 2014, when Nico Rosberg went down the Mirabeau escape road, ruining the final effort of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton fast lap. The German driver, survived an investigation without sanction.

    The F1 sporting regulations already contain an article that can be applied to anyone taking an escape road or going off into a run-off are and which reads: ‘Drivers must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not leave the track without a justifiable reason.’

    The stewards have the discretion to delete any or all lap times if a driver is deemed to have committed an offence that falls within that description.

    Awarding penalties for an actual accident that ends a session early, like those involving Charles Leclerc in Monaco 2021, and Sergio Perez this year would probably require a further discussion.

    Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon are just a few of the drivers who support the ideas of penalties. A few of them suggesting deleted lap times could be the way forward.

    My Opinion-

    I think if they were to delete lap times for the driver who crashed or penalise them somehow then that is justified. But if a driver done it deliberately I think the FIA will have a harder time trying to penalise them, as the drivers will say they didn’t etc and there won’t be any physical proof…

  • FIA introducing measures to control porpoising

    After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the FIA have announced plans to control the phenomenon of porpoising that has become a theme in the 2022 season, issuing a Technical Directive to the teams to give guidance about the measures they intend to take to tackle the issue.

    A return to ground effect cars for 2022 has seen a revival in F1 of the porpoising phenomenon, where cars lose and then regain downforce in quick succession, setting up a cycle of the car moving up and down. Meanwhile with ground effect working best when cars are run as low to the ground as possible, some teams have also struggled with additional issues like bottoming out and bouncing.

    A Technical Directive has been issued to give guidance to the teams about the measures the FIA intends to take to tackle the problem. These include:

    • Closer scrutiny of the planks and skids, both in terms of their design and the observed wear.
    • The definition of a metric, based on the car’s vertical acceleration, that will give a quantitative limit for acceptable level of vertical oscillations. The exact mathematical formula for this metric is still being analysed by the FIA, and the Formula 1 teams have been invited to contribute to this.

    In addition to these short-term measures, the FIA will convene a technical meeting with the Teams in order to define measures that will reduce the propensity of cars to exhibit such phenomena in the medium term.

    The FIA decided to intervene following consultation with its doctors in the interests of safety of the drivers. In a sport where the competitors are routinely driving at speeds in excess of 300km/h, it is considered that all driver’s concentration needs to be focused on that task and that excessive fatigue or pain experienced by a driver could have significant consequences should it result in a loss of concentration.

    In addition, the FIA has concerns in relation to the immediate physical impact on the health of the drivers, a number of whom have reported back pain.

  • F2 Driver given race ban & paddock altercations

    Formula 2 Driver, Amaury Cordeel has been banned from the next round at Silverstone after accruing 12 penalty points on his license.

    The Van Amersfoort driver has gained penalty points for many reasons, including ignoring track limits repeatedly at Imola, failing to respect yellow and red flags in Jeddah as well as failing to complete the formation lap in grid order at Barcelona last month.

    His various offences had combined to 11 penalty points heading into the Baku weekend, and he notched that point after colliding with Olli Caldwell in Sunday’s Feature Race.

    Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined Car 14 (Caldwell) was behind Car 25 (Cordeel) between Turns 3 and 4. Car 14 chose an outside line and was alongside Car 25 on the straight approaching Turn 4. Car 25 was focused on the cars ahead and did not see Car 14 on the left. Car 25 moved across to the left, making contact with Car 14 and forcing them both into the wall. Both cars retired. Car 25 was deemed to be wholly at fault for causing the collision.

    The FIA’s ruling on the collision.

    Cordeel will miss Formula 2’s next race weekend at Silverstone as a result, becoming the first F2 driver to receive a race ban since Mahaveer Ranganathan in 2019.

    Not only this, a €5,000 fine has been given to Charouz driver, Cem Bolukbasi after his father was involved in a paddock altercation with Williams test driver and Dams driver, Roy Nissany and his trainer in the paddock.

    Nissany, called Bolukbasi an ‘idiot’ over team radio when the pair both retired after colliding with each other and the words continued as Bolukbasi’s father, Yavuz confronted him in the DAMs tent, which lead to a ‘heated verbal exchange’ between them and Nissany’s trainer, Francesco Martinez as he also got involved afterwards.

    Bolukbasi senior, has had his event credentials for Silverstone revoked as a result, whilst his son has to pay the €5,000.

    Mr Bolukbasi admitted he lost his temper when he thought Car 19 (Nissany) made a derogatory comment about his son. As the verbal exchange escalated, the trainer for Roy Nissany became involved and there was some pushing and physical contact between the father and trainer. No punches were exchanged and the unwanted guests were removed from the area. At no time will physical violence, nor the threat of such be tolerated.

    The FIA statement on the altercation.

  • Williams fined for breach of financial regulations

    Williams racing have been fined $25,000 following a procedural breach of Formula 1’s financial regulations, the sports governing body the FIA announced yesterday.

    From 2021, the teams have been required to submit an interim account of their spending against the cost cap – which this year runs at $141.2 millions for the period between January and April by the end of June each year. Their annual spend must be reported by the end of the following March.

    Williams had failed to hit the second deadline of 31st March 2022, with the FIA informing the team of their procedural breach the following month.

    The British team accepted they had not obeyed the rules, with the FIA saying in a statement that the team explained the steps that they had taken in a bit to avert the breach.

    As the breach was voluntarily disclosed by the team in advance of the deadline and fully cooperated in seeking a remedy, the Cost Cap Administration – a body created to monitor compliance of the financial regulations – offered the team an Accepted Breach Agreement (ABA).

    This involved a commitment from Williams to remediate the breach by 7pm on 31st May 2022, pay a fine of $25,000 and bear the costs incurred by the Cost Cap Administration in connect with the preparation of the ABA. Williams accepted the offer and have since fulfilled the tree requirements.

    Why is there a cost cap?

    A cost cap was brought into F1 for specific reasons, to allow the small teams to spend the same amount as the big teams. It also looks like the cost cap will decrease each year until they (F1) are happy with how much teams are spending.

  • Andretti to be powered by Renault

    The name Andretti is well known in motorsport, with Andretti Autosport competing in the IndyCar Series, IndyCar Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and Formula E. The team also has a 37.5% stake in the Australian Supercars Championship, Walkinshaw Andretti United and a stake in the Extreme E team, Andretti United.

    Last year saw Michael Andretti in talks to buy Alfa Romeo but due to the main shareholder not wanting to sell this deal fell through. But, last week saw Andretti apply for his own Formula One team, to be entered for the 2024 season.

    Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 World Champion took to twitter on Friday the 18th revealing the Andretti name wanting to enter F1 writing: “Michael has applied to the FIA to field a new F1 team starting in 2024. His entry Andretti Global, has the resources and checks every box. He is awaiting the FIA’s determination.”

    Following on from this a week later, it has been revealed by Mario Andretti that Andretti Global will be powered by Renault power units in 2024…

    Alpine CEO, Laurent Rossi has recently said that right now would not be good time for Renault to supply a second team, he did say though the company was “open” to do so down the line. Well could 2024 be that line, and that second team be Andretti Global?

    “We have a formal agreement now on the engine supplier and its out there, so its going to be Renault and I’m allowed to say that now” Mario Andretti said this to David Land in an interview.

    The engine supplier is not the only aspect that the team has decided, Andretti Globabl has even fount the premises for its UK base.

    “We’re not just new boys in town,” he said in an interview with David Land. “We know the prerequisites and also there’s a time factor here. Once we said go ahead, we’ve got to go. So a lot of work has been done. We know where the property, where the facility is going to be built. in the UK. We know we have people, prominent individuals that have done this type of work as far as start-ups. We have a lot of things in mind.”

    The 1978 World Champion added: “There’s a lot of steps to take here and I understand that, it’s a huge undertaking. But we’re ready for it. We have incredible partners on our side, Michael does, and we’re there for the duration. Myself, I’ve been at it for 67 years now so we know what goes on on all sides of the Atlantic. And this is a great undertaking, a wonderful undertaking on Michael’s part. This shows that he’s very, very ambitious in the sport. That’s his business, period.”

    My Opinion-

    I think if Andretti do get the approval from the FIA, this will be brilliant, we need another Formula One team as there is so many drivers slipping through and not getting to F1 when in fact they deserve a spot.

    As well as this, having a name like Andretti in the sport may get a higher reach of F1 in America and bring new fans not just to F1 but the feeder series too. It seems like only positives can come out of this if it gets accepted.

  • Masi replaced as race director

    Michael Masi will be replaced as Formula 1 Race Director, and has been offered a new position within the FIA as a part of changes following the governing bodies analysis into last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who have both recently worked in the World Endurance Championship and DTM, they will alternate the Race Director role. As well as this, they will be assisted by Herbie Blash- who is returning to F1, having previously acted as deputy to Masi’s predecessor Charlie Whiting, as permanent senior advisor.

    The new race management trio will begin their new roles, in Barcelona next week when three days of pre-season running will take place.

    Regarding the structural changes, FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem said a Virtual Race Control Room will be created to assist the Race Director. See below to see his full statement.

    “Alike the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in football, it will be positioned in one of the FIA Offices as a backup outside the circuit. In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools,” he said. “Direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live by all TVs, will be removed in order to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully. It will still be possible to ask questions to the race director, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process. Unlapping procedures behind Safety Car will be reassessed by the F1 Sporting Advisory Committee and presented to the next F1 Commission prior to the start of the season. I presented this complete plan to the members of the World Motor Sport Council and the Senate who gave their full support.”

    My Opinion-

    First of all I think it is 100% the right thing for Masi to be removed as Race Director, there was many occasions last year where fans/teams/drivers were not happy with decisions being made especially in Abu Dhabi.

    The radio communications I agree with too, at the beginning of the year they were good as it was a brilliant start to the amazing season we saw, but towards the end it just got silly and they just kept going back and forth from one team to the race director then another team.

    The new virtual race control room is interesting, unsure on how it will work especially on how many things happen in a race and/or qualifying. But saying this, hopefully it does work and help the race director.

  • Aston Martin withdraw appeal…

    Aston Martin started to appeal Sebastian Vettel’s disqualification from the Hungarian Grand Prix, however the stewards dismissed it and since then withdrew.

    On the 5th of August, AM started to appeal, the team released a statement saying that the data showed their was enough fuel left in the car.

    On the 9th August, the stewards heard from the team. After hearing the review the FIA revealed Aston Martin had discovered a faulty fuel pump which lead to personnel only extracting 0.3 litres.

    Therefore the officials dismissed the right to review, which means that Vettel’s disqualification from the race still stands.

    Now today (12/08) , Aston Martin have withdrawn their appeal against the disqualification.
    A statement from the team said: “Having considered our position and having noted the FIA stewards’ verdict that there was clear new evidence of a fuel system failure, we have nonetheless withdrawn our appeal on the basis that we believe doing so outweighs the benefits of it being heard.”

    My opinion-

    I can see why the team wanted to appeal, it’s such a close season and 18 points is a lot too lose! However rules are rules at the end of the day, they never would of got away with it which is a shame but I’m sure Aston Martin will get another podium this season!

  • Flexi wing saga

    Lately in the news of Formula One we have seen lots of talk about Red Bull using a “Bendy wing/ Flexi wing” since qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix

    At the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton brought up that Red Bull have a bendy wing which he said was worth an extra three tenths in performance to the Mercedes. After the Spanish Grand Prix the FIA then announced they would have new tests on the flexibility of F1 cars rear wing and will be in place from the 15th of June (ahead of the French Grand Prix)

    Then leading up to the race weekend in Monaco, it came out that McLaren strongly disagrees with the FIA’s current plant to eventually outlaw the ‘bendy wings’. However no matter how unhappy they are with the current plan, they are reluctant to start launching protests against other teams…

    Christian Horner said during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend that such a tweak to the regulations could cost his team “half a million dollars”  an expense they can do without now that Formula 1 teams are working with a budget cap. Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur, agrees with Horner and slammed the decision to move the goalposts mid-season as a “joke”.

    It has now gone onto that Mercedes and Red Bull could end up protesting each other ahead of the next round in Baku unless the FIA provide further clarification on the wing saga. Whilst Mercedes have drawn attention to Red Bulls rear wing, Red Bull have now brought up Mercedes flexing front wing from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

    What are the regulations?

    Article 3.9.9 of F1’s Technical Regulations states: “The FIA reserve the right to introduce further load/deflection tests on any part of the bodywork which appears to be (or is suspected of) moving whilst the car is in motion.

    My opinion-

    Personally, I don’t think its right, if its illegal and doesn’t comply with the regulations then they should change it straight away not wait a month later, I understand it takes time etc but Red Bull could of easily got it done by the Monaco Grand Prix as they had a two week break between them or by Baku as that would be a four week break.

    I do think Red Bull are just trying to find anything on the Mercedes so they can protest back. I think Red Bull will be the ones looking silly at the end of this, they could of just saved their time and energy and changed it as soon as possible…

    I do see this going on for a little while so come back for some more updates as they happen!