The FIA will reconsider its parc ferme procedures following a stewards investigation into people blocking Esteban Ocon’s entry into the pit lane on the final lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Ocon had started the race from pit lane and run the first 50 laps on a set of hard tires hoping that a late red flag or safety car would grant his a free or cheap route into the points.
With no sign of an incident as Sergio Perez started the final lap, the Frenchman was called into he pits to concede defeat on the strategy and make his mandatory tire change.
Continue reading on RACERLewis Hamilton says he will continue to speak his mind during the 2023 Formula 1 season in defiance of an FIA ban on political speech in motorsport.
Late last year the FIA inserted a clause into the International Sporting Code, world motorsport’s fundamental governance document, that bans drivers from making “political, religious and personal statements” without prior written approval.
Punishments for breaking the code range from a simple warning to the suspension of a competition licence and a maximum fine of €250,000 ($387,000).
Continue reading on FOX SPORTSDrivers who make unapproved “political, religious and personal statements” could be thrown out of races or handed massive fines under a new rule written into international regulations this week.
The FIA has inserted a clause into the International Sporting Code, world motorsport’s fundamental governance document, that bans drivers from making any statement deemed non-neutral by the governing body without prior written approval.
“The general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its statutes, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA for international competitions,” new regulation 12.2.1.n states.
Continue reading on FOX SPORTSFerrari boss Mattia Binotto says Formula 1 must work more closely with its new race directors to accelerate their improvement after they were parachuted into the role at the start of the season.
Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich are sharing the race directorship this year after the FIA restructured race control in the wake of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix scandal that saw the world title decided after some controversial decisions from then race boss Michael Masi.
An internal investigation found Masi was overworked in the role and lacked support. Doubling up the number of race directors is one of the governing body’s responses to the findings.
Continue reading on RACERLewis Hamilton has welcomed FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem walking back his comments stating that drivers shouldn’t be using their F1 platform to advocate social and environmental causes.
Ben Sulayem singled out Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Lando Norris for using Formula 1 to “impose [their] beliefs” on the audience in an interview published last week, but in a tweet on Thursday he clarified that he believed the sport could be a force for positive change.
“As a driver, I have always believed in sport as a catalyst of progress in society,” he wrote. “That is why promoting sustainability, diversity and inclusion is a key priority of my mandate. In the same way, I value the commitment of all drivers and champions for a better future.”
Continue reading on RACER