#FIA to implement procedural changes after 2022 Japanese GP review

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FIA to implement procedural changes after 2022 Japanese GP review

Formula 1’s governing body the FIA will implement a series of changes to their procedures following the rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix. Several drivers voiced their frustration that a crane was sent out on track in wet conditions to recover Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari following a first-lap crash. Speaking on Thursday in Austin before the report was published, Charles Leclerc said: “I think we all made that point clear with the FIA – we don't want to see that. In 2014, we've obviously lost Jules [Bianchi] for a similar crash and we've been very clear with the FIA that we don't want that and I think they understood... We always have discussions after the races and of course this was a part of the discussions.” READ MORE: FIA fine-tune rules on roll hoops and grid penalties ahead of United States Grand Prix The FIA triggered a review into the incident and other actions that took place, with President Mohammed Ben Sulayem meeting with several drivers, including Grand Prix Drivers’ Association Director George Russell and Pierre Gasly, who drove past the crane while it was on track. The FIA said that while they focused on the safe recovery of the Ferrari, Gasly’s AlphaTauri – which had pitted after hitting an advertising hoarding that had drifted onto track after Sainz’s impact – was not “immediately detected”. “I think we all made that point clear with the FIA – we don't want to see that” – Charles Leclerc Gasly re-joined the track and drove to the Safety Car delta time in a bid to catch the pack. As he approached the incident at Turn 12, marshals were working with a crane on track. “The review panel acknowledged that having recovery cranes on track at Suzuka during the weather conditions is a sensitive matter in view of the tragic incidents of the past,” said the FIA in a statement. “The panel determined that in hindsight, as the weather conditions were changing, it would have been prudent to have delayed the deployment of the recovery vehicles on track.” READ MORE: A title still to be won, and an American driver on track – 5 storylines we’re excited about ahead of the US GP Gasly on red flag after Sainz crash: ‘We could have dealt with it in a different way’ Ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, the following measures will be implemented. The FIA will message teams via the official messaging system to notify them that a recovery vehicle is on track. The team is then obliged to tell their drivers. A live VSC/Safety Car monitoring window will be developed. This will display the status of all cars on track, behind the Safety Car and in the pits. The governing body will “better define the allocation of tasks across the Race Control team”, such as the role of monitoring cars entering the pit lane under Safety Car conditions. The FIA Race Director will speak to the drivers during their regular post-Friday practice briefing. A new function will allow a change in the delta speed required for the driver to follow before and in the sectors where there is an incident. This would aid the drivers to know where incidents have been declared. There will be a review of penalty precedents for drivers not respecting the rules relating to yellow, double yellow, VSC and SC conditions will take place. An assessment of the current application of advertising boards, their construction, location and materials used to avoid the potential for them to being torn off and thrown on track, will take place. In addition, Niels Wittich will permanently take on the role of Race Director for the final four remaining races in 2022, rather than sharing the position with Eduardo Freitas, who was in charge at Suzuka. The FIA also said they will clarify the wording of the regulations regarding the race time limit and points distribution during the next review of the Sporting Regulations, after there was some confusion at Suzuka. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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FP2: Leclerc tops extended practice session in Austin as drivers test 2023 Pirelli tyres

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time in FP2 for the 2022 United States Grand Prix – this session lengthened from 60 to 90 minutes for Pirelli’s prototype 2023 tyre test. Leclerc clocked a 1m 36.810s during an early stint on the 2022-spec medium tyre, having been allowed to run his own programme at the start of the session after sitting out FP1. READ MORE: Sainz leads Verstappen as four drivers make their debut at COTA With weather conditions hot and sunny at the Circuit of The Americas, it proved to be an ideal session for Pirelli to gather representative data on their work-in-progress compounds prior to a planned post-season test for the definitive versions in Abu Dhabi. Alongside Leclerc and Ferrari, several other drivers and teams conducted bespoke programmes for a portion of FP2 before focusing on the tyre test, with McLaren, Alfa Romeo, Williams and Haas also given dispensation for running ‘rookie’ drivers in FP1. 1 Charles Leclerc LEC Ferrari 1:36.810 2 Valtteri Bottas BOT Alfa Romeo +0.715s 3 Daniel Ricciardo RIC McLaren +0.817s 4 Carlos Sainz SAI Ferrari +1.422s 5 Mick Schumacher MSC Haas F1 Team +2.697s Indeed, FP2 marked the first laps of the weekend for Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, Nicholas Latifi and Kevin Magnussen – the latter looking to recover lost mileage at Haas after Antonio Giovinazzi’s crash in the opening session. Behind Leclerc, Bottas and Ricciardo made use of the 2022-spec soft compound en route to P2 and P3 for Alfa Romeo and McLaren respectively, the pair finishing over seven tenths away from the Monegasque's benchmark. READ MORE: Perez and Zhou receive 5-place grid penalties for US Grand Prix FP1 pace-setter Carlos Sainz led the pack of drivers restricted to prescribed runs (which included set stint lengths and fuel loads) on the unmarked Pirelli tyres, ending up around 1.5s adrift, with Mick Schumacher completing the top five for Haas. Lando Norris took sixth in the other McLaren, narrowly avoiding the wall after a wild slide at the pit entry, followed by Red Bull's Max Verstappen and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Pirelli gained some useful information with their unmarked prototype 2023 tyres in FP2 AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez were the final drivers to lap under the 1m 40s barrier in ninth and 10th respectively, with the aforementioned Magnussen placing 11th in his repaired VF-22. George Russell was almost a second down on team mate Hamilton in 13th, splitting the other AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo machines of Yuki Tsunoda and Zhou Guanyu, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll dropping from P4 in FP1 to P15 in FP2. READ MORE: FIA to implement procedural changes after 2022 Japanese GP review Alpine team mates Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso wound up 16th and 17th, the only moment of drama for the team coming when Alonso got stuck behind Hamilton on an early run and lamented over the radio that his rival “has no mirrors today”. At the back, Williams drivers Alex Albon and Latifi sandwiched Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin – the field covered by 5.5 seconds around the 5.513km Austin venue. Free Practice 3 begins at 1400 local time on Saturday before qualifying at 1700. Head to the RACE HUB to see how and when you can catch the action from Austin. Who’s going to score in the 2022 United States Grand Prix? Pick your dream team before qualifying and take on the world to win huge prizes with the Official Formula 1 Fantasy game. Sign up, join leagues and manage your squad here. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com