Andrew P Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 The FIA expects to complete its review into F1's controversial title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP by early February at the latest. Sky Sports has been told the formal investigative side of the inquiry began on Monday and the inquiry team will aim to interview all those involved in the controversy, including race director Michael Masi, stewards, drivers and team representatives. Peter Bayer, the FIA's secretary general of motor sport, will head up the process. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was elected FIA president on December 17, is taking a personal involvement in the review and dealing with it as a matter of urgency from the governing body's headquarters in Geneva. F1's governing body has been in a transitional phase with Jean Todt's term as president ending just five days after the Abu Dhabi finale. An FIA spokesperson said the investigation will be 'thorough, objective and transparent'. The governing body expects to complete the process in time for the next World Motor Sport Council meeting on February 3 at the latest. The FIA committed to an "analysis and clarification exercise" three days after the Abu Dhabi finale following discussions with Mercedes. Although Mercedes withdrew their intent to appeal against the race outcome, they remained hugely angered and dismayed about the handling of the Safety Car period by Masi after a chain of events which saw Lewis Hamilton lose the world title on the final lap to Max Verstappen. According to Sky Sports, Hamilton's future remains unclear ahead of the 2022 season. The outcome of the FIA's review is understood to be key to its resolution. Pre-season testing begins in Spain on February 23, with the season's first race in Bahrain on March 20. January 12 marks exactly one month since the highly-contentious conclusion to the 2021 season. Hamilton has not spoken publicly since the initial aftermath of the race, when he conducted a brief pre-podium interview and congratulated Verstappen. His only known comment on the events of the final laps is when he told his race engineer "this has been manipulated" over team radio into the race's final corners. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff revealed four days after the race the Briton felt "disillusioned" about what had unfolded, and said he could offer no firm assurances that Hamilton would definitely return to F1. "It's going to take a long time for us to digest what has happened on Sunday. I don't think we will ever overcome it, that's not possible," said Wolff, who said his driver had been "robbed" of the 2021 crown. "And certainly not him [Hamilton] as a driver. I would very much hope the two of us and the rest of the team we can work through the events... But he will never overcome the pain and the distress that was caused on Sunday." Wolff added: "I would very much hope Lewis continues racing because he is the greatest driver of all time. "As a racer his heart will say I need to continue because he's at the peak of his game. But we have to overcome the pain that was caused upon him on Sunday. He is a man with clear values." Wolff also made clear Mercedes would hold the FIA "accountable" for delivering on their promise of a review, which is set to involve discussion with teams and drivers. Masi's position, meanwhile, remains under huge scrutiny. A number of senior figures within Formula 1 now consider his position untenable. Sky Sports has learned several teams expressed a lack of confidence in his performances as race director during the 2021 season. #LewisHamilton #FireMichaelMasi #ReleaseTheFIAReport #MercedesAMG #WeRaceAsOne #TeamLH #LH44 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) 20 hours ago, Oldddudders said: I was responding to the BBC Sport report. Toto seems to have said Lewis and Merc are awaiting the FIA response. Perhaps you know he didn’t say that, and the BBC made it up? You said they are holding the FIA "to ransom", the report actually says that Wolff will hold the FIA "to account". I still feel that your wording is over dramatic and Lewis has said nothing which I still feel, in the circumstances, is a "dignified silence". However we don't disagree on the basics, just the tone. Edited January 13, 2022 by Hobby spelling 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted January 13, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 13, 2022 Clearly, Lewis "keeping everyone guessing" has the effect of ensuring the FIA don't fudge the enquiry. Had he unequivocally stated he would compete in 2022, that pressure would not exist. For the credibility of the sport, he (and everybody else) needs to be assured that the interpretation and application of the rules will be much more competent, consistent and transparent in future. Lewis may just be keeping strategically quiet about a decision he has already made, but that's not my view. I remain convinced his final decision will only be made when he's had time to digest such conclusion/proposals as emerge from the enquiry. John 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted January 13, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 13, 2022 I think Lewis is probably decided but may change if the result of the enquiry is as contrived as the incident in question. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said: Clearly, Lewis "keeping everyone guessing" has the effect of ensuring the FIA don't fudge the enquiry. Had he unequivocally stated he would compete in 2022, that pressure would not exist. For the credibility of the sport, he (and everybody else) needs to be assured that the interpretation and application of the rules will be much more competent, consistent and transparent in future. Lewis may just be keeping strategically quiet about a decision he has already made, but that's not my view. I remain convinced his final decision will only be made when he's had time to digest such conclusion/proposals as emerge from the enquiry. John 1 hour ago, PaulRhB said: I think Lewis is probably decided but may change if the result of the enquiry is as contrived as the incident in question. And the same probably goes for Toto. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Could Sainz be the dark Horse for 2022? Sainz '100% ready' to fight for 2022 championship with Ferrari after best-ever season https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sainz-100-ready-to-fight-for-2022-championship-with-ferrari-after-best-ever.2LuG2rUbQfcu01Fddo0VEk.html?fbclid=IwAR09aG74Jj_89BQJHKVHRWFR9REAzGvNXT46p1oqaM6zaDgjHwQj95_tqzg 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Executive director Marcin Budkowski leaves Alpine F1 team https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/33057532/executive-director-marcin-budkowski-leaves-alpine-f1-team 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Wolff set for Abu Dhabi storm talks with new FIA president. https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74489/wolff-set-for-abu-dhabi-storm-talks-with-new-fia-president/?fbclid=IwAR0XUNzsTWXLkgen2M3r1T6OM4wed5__8If11ocubEg_apB339v0p0CYY2c 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 AlphaTauri takes important step with 2022 car https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/102897/alphatauri-takes-important-step-with-2022-car.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Jonboy Posted January 13, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 13, 2022 FIA not releasing their review results until the day before first race of the season… https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-statement-abu-dhabi-grand-prix/ 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Jonboy said: FIA not releasing their review results until the day before first race of the season… https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-statement-abu-dhabi-grand-prix/ Brinkmanship! It appears that the FIA will be closing out any attempt by Lewis/Toto to await a decision pre-season, which I think shows their arrogance and contempt for the greatest team and driver of the modern era. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted January 14, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 14, 2022 It’s hard to think of any large sporting bodies now that are not saturated with corruption and led by totally wretched people. Darius 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Keeps it in the media which is all they are interested in. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted January 14, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) That's when the report will be made public, assuming the contents don't get leaked sooner. Reading the account on BBC News, the FIA plan to discuss the outcome with teams and drivers prior to the testing event on 22-23 Feb., that being the effective deadline for LH to reveal his intentions. Looks like there could be a window of up to two-weeks for him to decide. John Edited January 14, 2022 by Dunsignalling 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Aston Martin to launch '22 car on Feb. 10. https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/33063523/aston-martin-launch-22-car-feb-10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 MotoGP great Valentino Rossi to race on four wheels in 2022. https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/33063561/motogp-great-valentino-rossi-race-four-wheels-2022 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Aston Martin appoint new team principal. https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74529/aston-martin-appoint-new-team-principal/?fbclid=IwAR0i5G2TJGb69t54UtEy_0fhwHWJDzNTGd41-v5HX3eKTu7tceJ0dMdnJIo 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Maserati open door for potential F1 return. https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74521/maserati-open-door-for-potential-f1-return/?fbclid=IwAR06cpLk7arxIvbBlfXaZNqk90FwnG5ninJfXB4HGv0V_wd14LJ-40RjgAw 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 F1 sprint race practice "totally useless". https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74349/f1-sprint-race-practice-quot-totally-useless-quot/?fbclid=IwAR0zzxlIyekivWDLqnvz4Q-hnWbXr9jJvcio4lfmpUiZTK5tv4y1B4Ut0qw 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Martin Brundle Reveals the Biggest Conundrum With Replacing Michael Masi as F1 Race Director. https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-martin-brundle-reveals-the-biggest-conundrum-with-replacing-michael-masi-as-f1-race-director/?fbclid=IwAR0n0rxR3ps2K00IJCeG7cSR7AgCOAOQR2CAUuWqcvEUqW1CEBAdcMCDhkQ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 14, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 14, 2022 20 minutes ago, Andrew P said: Martin Brundle Reveals the Biggest Conundrum With Replacing Michael Masi as F1 Race Director. https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-martin-brundle-reveals-the-biggest-conundrum-with-replacing-michael-masi-as-f1-race-director/?fbclid=IwAR0n0rxR3ps2K00IJCeG7cSR7AgCOAOQR2CAUuWqcvEUqW1CEBAdcMCDhkQ A rotating race director? How cool is that? Revolving in a flat spin! No. We have all lamented inconsistency in decisions, caused by having rotating stewards. Having a further change is asking for more trouble. The FIA has a problem? Get the Rule Book sorted properly, then we hardly need the Wisdom of Solomon at all. 1 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hroth Posted January 14, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 14, 2022 35 minutes ago, Oldddudders said: A rotating race director? How cool is that? Revolving in a flat spin! No. We have all lamented inconsistency in decisions, caused by having rotating stewards. Having a further change is asking for more trouble. The FIA has a problem? Get the Rule Book sorted properly, then we hardly need the Wisdom of Solomon at all. We have all thought they were a bunch of Wankels at one time or another..... Slips out, sniggering in a Muttley manner. 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 1 hour ago, Andrew P said: Martin Brundle Reveals the Biggest Conundrum With Replacing Michael Masi as F1 Race Director. https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-martin-brundle-reveals-the-biggest-conundrum-with-replacing-michael-masi-as-f1-race-director/?fbclid=IwAR0n0rxR3ps2K00IJCeG7cSR7AgCOAOQR2CAUuWqcvEUqW1CEBAdcMCDhkQ A site that presents you with an interminable set of options to turn off cookies - no thanks! (Sorry, Andrew) 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted January 15, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 15, 2022 13 hours ago, Andrew P said: Martin Brundle Reveals the Biggest Conundrum With Replacing Michael Masi as F1 Race Director. https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-martin-brundle-reveals-the-biggest-conundrum-with-replacing-michael-masi-as-f1-race-director/?fbclid=IwAR0n0rxR3ps2K00IJCeG7cSR7AgCOAOQR2CAUuWqcvEUqW1CEBAdcMCDhkQ Pinched the idea from Have I Got News For You. Have a different comedian running each race instead of the same joker. Cheers Darius 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 15, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 15, 2022 4 minutes ago, Darius43 said: Pinched the idea from Have I Got News For You. Have a different comedian running each race instead of the same joker. Brilliant idea - could give an unemployed Boris a turn! 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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