FIA Thread

[GrizzleBoy]

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Well, tell that Sir Lewis Hamilton.

He was correct, it was a different experience from last year. It also referenced Horner's "no one can overtake through Copse".

That is a bit funny, isn't it? We saw good racing between Lec and Ver for multiple races without crashing/touching, or too much running off. Completely different to 2021 where every time someone was off when or forced off when Per, Ver and Ham tried to overtake. Very well taken, good sportsmanship and good media. So suddenly Ham, who is quiet on this, starts praising Lec...ok...

Copse 2022...Ham on the apex, isn't he? So if this is his benchmark, then how about his 2021 position?

I think the 2021 shitshow where Ver and Ham BOTH just ruined the battles was super hard to judge by the FIA. Mostly after not going strictly against driving each other off the track initially.
Completely different game now. Much stricter enforcement of the rules of engagement, more penalties for any dirty moves. They are on a good path and so are the drivers.

Eh???

Some of the best, cleanest racing in 2021 was betwween Perez and Hamilton, on multiple occasions and in multiple races.

It's only when Max is added to the mix that it all gets messy.

Bahrain Max got beaten off the line and tried to make the overtake by dive bombing Lewis off the track.

Brazil. Ridiculous defending from Max pushing Ham about 3/4 car lengths away from the Apex of the turn, to the point where they almost both used the entirety of the run off on the opposite side of the apex.

Saudi Arabia was a total crap show from Max and even his biggest fan on the Sky team Martin Brundle was disappointed and said he needed to think about his driving standards. Brake checking, cutting straight across turn 1 and parking on the exit to block Ham, going off the track basically every single time they were next to each other in a braking zone in desperate move after desperate move.

Monza, Max ended up on top of Hamilton.

Silverstone Ham pushed Max off.

And pretty much every other time they raced where Max just generally ran Lewis right off the track.

I have no idea where Sergio fits into all this where when he fought with Lewis it was almost all within the lines, the crowd loved it and there was never any controversy because it was just clean racing. That's how Sergio won the hearts of RB and Max fans through the season.

[diffuser]

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Well, tell that Sir Lewis Hamilton.

He was correct, it was a different experience from last year. It also referenced Horner's "no one can overtake through Copse".

That is a bit funny, isn't it? We saw good racing between Lec and Ver for multiple races without crashing/touching, or too much running off. Completely different to 2021 where every time someone was off when or forced off when Per, Ver and Ham tried to overtake. Very well taken, good sportsmanship and good media. So suddenly Ham, who is quiet on this, starts praising Lec...ok...

Copse 2022...Ham on the apex, isn't he? So if this is his benchmark, then how about his 2021 position?

I think the 2021 shitshow where Ver and Ham BOTH just ruined the battles was super hard to judge by the FIA. Mostly after not going strictly against driving each other off the track initially.
Completely different game now. Much stricter enforcement of the rules of engagement, more penalties for any dirty moves. They are on a good path and so are the drivers.

Yep, the biggest mistake the FIA made was allowing that tougher racing back when Max first came up. I really like the "a line is a line" approach. When they make room for interpretation, they're creating a HUGE gap for bias pro or against a driver. I strongly beleive that that they should continue with the strick inforcement of the rules. They should also create a guidance for tracks and how lines should work hand in hand with the rules. To minimise and one day illimentate where they have lines in strange places.

[Quantum]

Once the decision was taken, fought, and retained they should have quit. But they kept going even after there was zero chance (as the final decision was made). That is just very poor. It serves no purpose anymore.

The potential for it to have been far worse was clear as day.

If it went to a court, how do you propose the FIA would defend what Masi did?
That it didn't go to court serves as testimony of restraint or diplomacy from the higher ups at the FIA and Mercedes.

It's also very interesting you claim "they kept going even after there was zero chance". The facts dispel your assertion.
The race ended on the 12th of December and on the 16th of December Mercedes withdrew any threat of the appeal along with a message to RB and Max.

We appealed in the interest of sporting fairness, and we have since been in a constructive dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1 to create clarity for the future, so that all competitors know the rules under which they are racing, and how they are enforced. Thus, we welcome the decision by the FIA to install a commission to thoroughly analyse what happened in Abu Dhabi and to improve the robustness of the rules, governance and decision making in Formula 1. We will hold the FIA accountable for this process and we hereby withdraw our appeal.
To Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing: we would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season. You made this Formula 1 Championship title fight truly epic. Max, we congratulate you and your entire team. We look forward to taking the fight to you on the track next season.

[Sieper]

The fact do not dispel anything I have said about Mercedes and Hamiltons very poor attitude to loosing the 2021 WDC. They have kept on going and going, the 6 sentence statements they also made do nothing to change that fact. F.e. Hamilton at Silverstone 2022 making a reference to 2021 is only the currently latest remark in a very, very long line of similar facts. It is all very sad and does nothing for him nor for Max.

[wesley123]

The fact do not dispel anything I have said about Mercedes and Hamiltons very poor attitude to loosing the 2021 WDC.

I'm really wondering what 'poor attitude' you are referring to?

They have kept on going and going

Have they? Because as far as I'm aware they didn't. They filed their appeal and shortly after they withdrew this appeal after it was announced the FIA announced an inquiry.

[Sieper]

We have now heard two excuses, yes it happened but in fact there were positive statements (too). No, it didn’t happen. Two of the six classical maskirovka methods have now been used. Guess it is a sign of the times.

[Just_a_fan]

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Well, tell that Sir Lewis Hamilton.

He was correct, it was a different experience from last year. It also referenced Horner's "no one can overtake through Copse".

That is a bit funny, isn't it? We saw good racing between Lec and Ver for multiple races without crashing/touching, or too much running off. Completely different to 2021 where every time someone was off when or forced off when Per, Ver and Ham tried to overtake. Very well taken, good sportsmanship and good media. So suddenly Ham, who is quiet on this, starts praising Lec...ok...

Copse 2022...Ham on the apex, isn't he? So if this is his benchmark, then how about his 2021 position?

I think the 2021 shitshow where Ver and Ham BOTH just ruined the battles was super hard to judge by the FIA. Mostly after not going strictly against driving each other off the track initially.
Completely different game now. Much stricter enforcement of the rules of engagement, more penalties for any dirty moves. They are on a good path and so are the drivers.

In previous seasons, Hamilton avoided Max in any close calls because Hamilton was fighting for the title, Max wasn't. So Max had nothing to lose, Hamilton did. Hamilton even said so publicly that he gives Max more room.

In 2021, Max assumed Hamilton was going to be an equally easy push over as he had been in close quarters. But Hamilton decided he wasn't going to be a push over.

At the end of the Wellington Straight, Max dive bombed Hamilton, Hamilton gave him room to avoid the contact - he didn't turn in and Max took the place. In Copse, Max turned in expecting Hamilton to be the compliant bitch he had been previously. That didn't end well, did it?

It was interesting to see Max around Hamilton in Austria. Positions reversed from 2020 and before - Max had everything to lose, Hamilton didn't. And Max gave him room, didn't try to muscle him. Funny that, eh?

[Wouter]

FIA unrest appears to be complete: F2 race director summarily sacked

Things are rumbling internally at the FIA, according to The Telegraph Saturday morning. Gwen Bourcier, who played the role of Head of Operations (maintaining contact with the team managers during F1 races) and race director of Formula 2, was dismissed with immediate effect last week. There seems to be no really clear reason for this and so there is talk of a disturbance.

Bourcier would not have received any warning or indication of impending dismissal prior to his dismissal. As a result, several FIA employees have been very critical of the regime of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, since December 2021 the new FIA president after the departure of Jean Todt.

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The staff at the FIA seems to be a bit fed up with it. They already found the departure of Masi unjustified and now Bourcier has to leave as well, which is also unjustified according to them.

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De Telegraaf asked the FIA for a response and it got it. "We are building a new structure for the race control team after the departure of Michael Masi. This is part of that process. It is not unusual during a transition period that there are changes in terms of operations or personnel," said the governing body's statement.

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https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/118187/f ... acked.html

[chrisc90]

FIA unrest appears to be complete: F2 race director summarily sacked

De Telegraaf asked the FIA for a response and it got it. "We are building a new structure for the race control team after the departure of Michael Masi. This is part of that process. It is not unusual during a transition period that there are changes in terms of operations or personnel," said the governing body's statement.

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https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/118187/f ... acked.html

Sacked then.

Wonder what's going on in the bigger picture here then

[wogx]

[Just_a_fan]

Hmmm, they say that Mercedes's problem is at the front of the floor - that would be the bit that it is alleged that other teams have devices that disappear in to the floor and thus allow them to avoid the issue. Perhaps the protests are a smoking gun for things that other teams are doing that aren't, perhaps, entirely within the rules. Whatever the outcome, it's going to be interesting to see how the upcoming changes affect things, if at all.

[johnny comelately]

Achtung: political. One of the best things the FIA have done

[Dernie Ecclestone]

This article was too technical for me. Are they saying it's homophobic to boo Mercedes drivers? Or raycist? Anyway abuse of fans was outlawed with the Brabham BT46 so not quite sure what they're on about.

https://www.f1technical.net/news/23790

[GrizzleBoy]

https://i.imgur.com/o612eHT.png

This article was too technical for me. Are they saying it's homophobic to boo Mercedes drivers? Or raycist? Anyway abuse of fans was outlawed with the Brabham BT46 so not quite sure what they're on about.

https://www.f1technical.net/news/23790

Have you actually read the thing you've linked to?

[diffuser]

Hmmm, they say that Mercedes's problem is at the front of the floor - that would be the bit that it is alleged that other teams have devices that disappear in to the floor and thus allow them to avoid the issue. Perhaps the protests are a smoking gun for things that other teams are doing that aren't, perhaps, entirely within the rules. Whatever the outcome, it's going to be interesting to see how the upcoming changes affect things, if at all.

The disappearing item is the floor but plank. They're thinking, well one approach is, that some teams have put a softer material behind the plank so when the plank hits the asphalt the softer material behind it gives first and absorbs some of the impact.

Some teams are running a sprung front of plank in the BIB.That suggest to me that part can flex but I don't know for certain.