It’s not hard to see why so many people are screaming ‘foul’ over Michael Schumacher being stripped of sixth place in the Monaco Grand Prix. At the end of a processional race Schumacher’s pass on Alonso was, at first glance, a smart of piece opportunism – not unlike the one pulled off on the last … Continue reading The FIA’s badly-written rules leave Formula 1 looking stupid once again
FIA articles archive
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body of world motorsport.
Jean Todt’s Approval Rating II (Poll)
Posted onIt’s still early days for the Jean Todt presidency – but we’ve seen a few telling developments at the FIA in the last few weeks. We’re monitoring Todt’s progress to see whether F1 fans think he is doing a good job. Join in below.
FIA starts Briatore appeal but softens stance
Posted onThe FIA has confirmed it will appeal the Tribune de Grande Instance’s verdict against its decision to ban Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds from motor racing. However it also admitted it would not prevent drivers managed by Briatore, such as Mark Webber, from competing in F1 as it had previously threatened: While the appeal is … Continue reading FIA starts Briatore appeal but softens stance
How solid is FOTA’s legal argument? A lawyer looks at the FIA-Ferrari letters
Posted onWhat should we make of the legal letters sent between Ferrari and the FIA, which were made public by Max Mosley last week? The FIA give the impression that Ferrari’s case is flimsy and full of holes, but the Ferrari representatives hit back that the FIA have failed to address the substance of the matter. … Continue reading How solid is FOTA’s legal argument? A lawyer looks at the FIA-Ferrari letters
McLaren called before WMSC again: what will their punishment be?
Posted onSome developments are met with such little surprise they barely even qualify as ‘news’. The FIA summoning McLaren to appear before the World Motor Sports Council surely meets this criteria. The team are being called to explain why they misled stewards about Lewis Hamilton allowing Jarno Trulli past under the safety car in the closing … Continue reading McLaren called before WMSC again: what will their punishment be?
FIA to cut licence fees – but by how much?
Posted onThe F1 drivers’ superlicence fee row appeared to end in defeat for the drivers as they agreed to pay the FIA’s higher fee structure – which increased revenue to the FIA five-fold. However the sports governing body has now indicated it will cut the fees in 2010, but not said how much they will come … Continue reading FIA to cut licence fees – but by how much?
Max Mosley’s U-turns for 2009 and 2010
Posted onYou can accuse Max Mosley of many things, but you can’t accuse him of being consistent. The next two years will see at least three reversals of major policy decisions taken by Mosley during his 17-year presidency of the FIA. Why the U-turns? Is Mosley being forced to take decisions he doesn’t agree with? Is … Continue reading Max Mosley’s U-turns for 2009 and 2010
FIA responds as Honda officially announces withdrawal from F1
2009 F1 season
Posted onHonda president and CEO Takeo Fukui has officially announced the withdrawal of Honda from Formula One.
If Massa wins the title will it be tainted by the Spa controversy? (Poll)
Posted onIn the run-up to the final race of the season several people have left comments here pointing out that Lewis Hamilton would already be champion had he not received that infamous penalty at Spa-Francorchamps. Without it the drivers’ championship would already be over. Is that a good thing or not?
FIA trying to ban Martin Brundle?
Posted onMosley’s man wants commentator out
FIA-FOTA agreement: Teams’ proposals accepted as Mosley backs down on KERS
Posted onDetails are emerging about the agreement reached between the FIA and FOTA, representing the F1 teams, following their meeting at Geneva today. A joint statement from the two declared “significant cost savings for 2009 and 2010” had been agreed but added no further detail. However Autosport has published details of some points of the agreement … Continue reading FIA-FOTA agreement: Teams’ proposals accepted as Mosley backs down on KERS
Ross Brawn says FIA don’t help Ferrari. Senna’s GP2 penalty says otherwise
Posted onThe FIA stewards have further muddied the waters about what an “unsafe release” from the pits is. They gave a penalty to GP2 driver Bruno Senna for incident that was almost identical to the one involving Ferrari’s Felipe Massa at Valencia two weeks ago – when Massa got no penalty.
Was McLaren’s $100m fine illegal?
Posted onAn article in today’s Independent on Sunday alleges the $100m fine given to McLaren by the FIA last year was illegal. According to the story: Not everyone who voted on the fine may have been authorised to do so. According to Article 14 of the FIA statutes, the WMSC “shall consist of … a total … Continue reading Was McLaren’s $100m fine illegal?
First drivers, now teams to pay more?
Posted onDuring the French Grand Prix weekend more rumours emerged about the behind-the-scenes discussions over the future of Formula 1 between the teams, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone. According to Autosport the FIA is urging Ecclestone to increase the amount of money the teams receive from promotion and television rights. But with the FIA’s World Motor … Continue reading First drivers, now teams to pay more?
FIA set to allow tyre warmers in 2009
Posted onThe FIA is expected to back down from its proposed ban on tyre warmers for the 2009 F1 season at the World Motor Sports Council’s meeting on Wednesday. A ban on tyre warmers had been proposed for next year along with the re-introduction of slick tyres. However the FIA is now understood to believe that … Continue reading FIA set to allow tyre warmers in 2009
Mosley rejected compromise deal in April
Posted onDetails of an attempt by FIA members to reach a deal with scandal-hit president Max Mosley emerged tonight. According to the FIA Deputy President for Automobile, Mobility and Tourism Franco Lucchesi he and “almost all” the members of the World Council for the Autmobile Mobility and Tourism agreed to the offer. Under the terms of … Continue reading Mosley rejected compromise deal in April
Has the FIA superlicence price hike caused a split within the GPDA?
Posted onSomething odd is going on with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association at the moment. There have been stories going around since last year about some of its members being unhappy that certain drivers haven’t joined what is effectively the drivers’ union. The driver mentioned most often has been Lewis Hamilton, who over the weekend denied … Continue reading Has the FIA superlicence price hike caused a split within the GPDA?
Inevitable Max Mosley post #11
Posted onI wanted to ignore the inevitable Max Mosley stuff over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend and concentrate on the racing (at least, what little there was that passed for racing). Pressure continues to grow on the FIA president to quit with sporting bodies shunning him and the teams considering making an official statement criticising him, … Continue reading Inevitable Max Mosley post #11
Who will launch Racing Against Racism?
Posted onAs Max Mosley clings desperately to power while the FIA waits for the chance to have its say on June 3rd, there are three more Grands Prix to run in the meantime. And the next one is the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, at which we are expecting to see the launch … Continue reading Who will launch Racing Against Racism?
Dominoes
Posted onRon Dennis and Max Mosley have never been the best of friends. Mosley once said of Dennis: Ron has no role in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship apart from that granted him, in common with other teams, by the Concorde Agreement. Unfortunately he find all this rather difficult to understand. Several years later, and … Continue reading Dominoes