The FIA has responded to allegations of bullying and sexism against President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, confirming that due process was followed in response to complaints made by former interim secretary general for motorsport, Shaila-Ann Rao. The FIA statement did not refer to any specific instances of the alleged behavior but highlighted their anti-harassment policy, anonymous whistleblowing facility, and investigation procedure. The statement also confirmed that no complaints were received against the President regarding the other allegations.
Click here to read the full article by Michael Butterworth (racingnews365.com).
Red Bull's Christian Horner accused Mercedes of not returning the real Constructors' Championship trophy, suggesting that they may have only handed back a replica. Speaking on Red Bull's podcast, Horner explained that teams usually get to keep a replica of the trophy but have to return the real one to the FIA to inscribe the next winner's name. Horner's remarks come amid a fierce rivalry between the two teams, which has included tensions over rule changes and a budget cap scandal.
Click here to read the full article by Luke Chillingsworth (express.co.uk).
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali had suggested the introduction of additional qualifying on sprint weekends and the possibility of more Sprint races in the future. However, world champion Max Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with the idea, stating that too many changes may lead him to quit. In response, German racer Ralf Schumacher, speaking to Sky Germany, stated that Formula 1 is bigger than any individual and that Verstappen should either accept it or leave. Schumacher also acknowledged the risks associated with increased sprints but emphasized that Verstappen is paid to do it.
Click here to read the full article by Amar Mehta (gpfans.com).
Formula 1 has made changes to the F1 Sprint format for six events in the 2023 season, starting with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Here's a simple explanation of the new Sprint format.
F1 teams and the FIA have agreed to increase the allocation of four main power unit elements for the 2023 season, reducing grid penalties for using extra engine elements. The change allows each driver to use four examples of the internal combustion engine, turbo, MGU-H, and MGU-K before penalties apply. The FIA has also extended the time for grid procedures from 40 to 50 minutes for some races. Additionally, the FIA will consider cost cap exclusions related to updating F1 team factory infrastructure for sustainability purposes.
Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (Motorsport.com).
