The other question no seems to be talking about yet- have the new regulations worked as planned. Can cars follow and pass? We won't know any of that until they hit the track.
Michael Masi will be replaced as Formula 1 Race Director and offered a new position within the FIA as part of a series of changes following the governing body’s analysis into last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who have recently worked in the World Endurance Championship and DTM respectively, will alternate the Race Director role.
They will be assisted by Herbie Blash – who returns to F1 having previously acted as deputy to Masi’s predecessor Charlie Whiting, as permanent senior advisor.
The new race management trio will begin their new roles in Barcelona next week, when three days of pre-season running take place.
Newly-elected FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that Masi “accomplished a very challenging job for three years as F1 race director following Charlie Whiting”.
Regarding the structural changes, Ben Sulayem said a Virtual Race Control Room will be created to assist the Race Director.
“Alike the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in football, it will be positioned in one of the FIA Offices as a backup outside the circuit. In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools,” he said.
“Direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live by all TVs, will be removed in order to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully. It will still be possible to ask questions to the race director, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process.
“Unlapping procedures behind Safety Car will be reassessed by the F1 Sporting Advisory Committee and presented to the next F1 Commission prior to the start of the season.”
He added: “I presented this complete plan to the members of the World Motor Sport Council and the Senate who gave their full support.
The Enemy's gate is down.
February 17, 2022, 09:27 AM
Georgeair
quote:
will alternate the Race Director role.
Surely that will lead to more consistency. They should consider letting a randomly chosen fan from the stands act as a steward at each race too, but only for 30 minutes then rotate in another.
Szafnauer confirmed as new Alpine team principal Chris Medland February 17, 2022 11:37 AM ET
Otmar Szafnauer has been confirmed as the new team principal at Alpine, with Bruno Famin also joining the team.
Szafnauer was heavily linked with a move to Alpine during last season’s Qatar Grand Prix, but his departure from Aston Martin was not confirmed until January of this year. In that time Marcin Budkowski left Alpine, while Alain Prost also departed prior to BWT being named title partner ahead of Szafnauer’s confirmation.
“I am thrilled to join BWT Alpine F1 Team and ready to get to work with everyone to achieve our challenge: bring the team to fight for the championship within the next 100 races,” Szafnauer said. “My attention is focused on preparing for the start of the season in Bahrain. As one of the three car manufacturers involved in Formula 1, Alpine is fully armed to achieve its ambition, I can’t wait to start the journey.”
Alongside Szafnauer’s arrival comes former FIA deputy sport secretary general Famin, who is tasked with overseeing development of the Formula 1 power unit and maximizing the crossover between the F1 team and road car brand.
Both new additions will report into Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, while Davide Brivio also has a new role as director of racing expansion projects.
“With Otmar and Bruno joining the team, we move to a new level for 2022,” Rossi said. “Otmar will bring his unique experience in motorsports and his uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno’s proven track record in building technologies that make a difference in competition and their subsequent transference to road cars is critical for our project as a sports team and as a brand.
“Over the past year I have seen Davide’s talent to identify the best in people, and to make them perform as well as they can. I am delighted to utilize this unique skill across all existing Alpine assets and new ones we are just starting to explore. Our band of racers is complete and ready to bring the team towards its ambitious objectives in 2022.”
February 17, 2022, 11:41 AM
220-9er
I don't see ruling by committee being an improvement or how it would guarantee a better decision being made at a particular event.
This has been caused by a decision made at one event by one person. A better and more fair call would have been to have thrown the red flag to allow the clean up, and all cars could have fitted new tires and raced to the finish for more than one lap.
There should be a new rule applied that could easily overcome these problems with lapped cars, safety and fairness. Instead of sending them around to catch back up, taking up a lap or more behind the pace car, and having to wait for workers to get off the racing surface, make them fall behind lead lap cars within 10 laps of the end. That can be done safely behind the pace car and with workers still on the track.
The change they have made did nothing to address the issue except to force Michael Masi to fall on his sword as a symbolic sacrifice for what happened at that last race.
^^^ Good to see Otmar end up there without having to take a year off, as often happens. He has done more with less than anyone out there and kept his former team together through a series of owners in almost constant crisis.
Now, can he manage the French propensity to shoot themselves in the foot and make a true factory team stop operating like a budget starved backmarker operation? Flavio was the only other guy to do it although he was a bit light in the ethics department at times.
We'll have to wait and see if Ferrari can turn the corner too. Nationalistic management hasn't worked out too well for them in the past.This message has been edited. Last edited by: 220-9er,
What do you think Bernie Ecclestone would say about committees and decisions by same?
"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein
February 18, 2022, 08:08 AM
P250UA5
Mercedes W13
The Enemy's gate is down.
February 19, 2022, 12:05 PM
220-9er
Andretti says they are going to enter F-1 in 2024. Not much more known at this time.
Be interesting to see if they go the 11th team route or buyout. Haas > Andretti, maybe?
The Enemy's gate is down.
February 22, 2022, 08:48 AM
P250UA5
Alpine A522
'One-off' Pink livery for Bahrain & Saudi
The Enemy's gate is down.
February 22, 2022, 12:26 PM
SIGnified
Well now, that is confusing as hell.
Alpine running BWT pink colors.
"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein
February 22, 2022, 01:09 PM
P250UA5
The more blue livery looks pretty good. Those that haven't been keeping up will probably mistake the pink Alpine for the Aston.
The Enemy's gate is down.
February 22, 2022, 01:15 PM
SIGnified
quote:
Originally posted by P250UA5: The more blue livery looks pretty good. Those that haven't been keeping up will probably mistake the pink Alpine for the Aston.
Hell - I bet sky sports F1 team gets it wrong!
"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein
February 22, 2022, 02:41 PM
DanH
Alpine will run that livery for two races this year. The rest will be in blue.
Also, Mario Andretti did a few interviews and gave a few more details. You can check it out here:
"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein
