First off we have a correction and an apology to Herbie Blash - he’s apparently very much not dead, we were incorrect in saying he was.
The FIA has completed their investigation into the actions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and in the interest of openness and transparency the FIA has decided… …to not share their findings with the public…
What the FIA has agreed to do is share the changes that they will be making to F1 as a result of their investigation - with the most notable being the decision to relieve Michael Masi of his duties as Race Director and offer him a new role within the FIA. Niels Wittich and Eduardo Frietas will be alternating as F1’s Race Director and both will be backed up by Herbie Blash who will serve as Senior Advisor.
Other changes - The Race Director will be supported by an off track Virtual Race Control Room. Communications between the teams and Race Control will no longer be broadcast and will be tightly controlled to prevent teams from distracting the Race Director.
The FIA has also announced changes to the Safety Car Restart Procedure as a result of the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - although we’re skeptical that the changes are an improvement.
Independent of the Abu Dhabi investigation, the FIA has modified the requirements for classifying and event as a race and assigning points in the event of another rain soaked weekend like we saw in Spa this past year. Like with the new Safety Car Restart Procedure we’re not quite sure that the new requirements are an improvement.
Other changes for 2022:
There will be just three sprint races. Friday’s qualifying at these weekends will set the grid for both the Sprint and Sunday’s race. The top 8 finishers of the Sprint will get points.
There will be technical show and tell sessions for the media to see and understand the upgrades teams are rolling out every weekend.
All teams will now have a free choice of starting tires for Sunday’s race, no longer with the top 10 be required to start on the same tire they set their fastest time on in Q2
Ross Brawn says that teams won’t try to sabotage their wakes to make following more difficult - we say, if they weren’t before they’re probably going to now…
Otmar Szafnauer has been announced as the new Team Principal at Alpine.
We’ve had car reveals…
Drive to Survive is coming on March 11
New F1 Simulation Centers could be coming to a city near you.
F1 will be racing at COTA for another 5 years
And Michael Andretti and Andretti Autosport have applied to launch an F1 team.