This is the big nonsense at the FIA.
In the middle of a triple-header, Niels Wittich, the race director, was disembarked. He was replaced at short notice by Rui Marques, who was therefore, in addition to F2, to manage race direction in F1 in Qatar.
Perhaps tired by so many loads, Rui Marques got through it during the Qatar Grand Prix. When a mirror failed on the track, in the middle of the main straight, he did not deploy a safety car at all. Valtteri Bottas' Sauber hit him and as a result glass and carbon debris were scattered on the track… which most likely caused the punctures of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.
Finally, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, dismissed the drivers who criticized him for his anti-swearing crusade and the use of fines by the FIA. “Let them mind their own business” he answered them!
Toto Wolff, who saw his two drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, also sanctioned for separate offenses during the GP in Qatar, would therefore like the FIA to put its affairs in order… The boss of Mercedes F1 n 'Don't hold back!
“If you look at it in a positive way, it could be the subject of a reality TV show, with everything that's going on right now,” he declared.
“I think that all our partners must keep in mind that we must protect this Holy Grail that is this sport, do it with responsibility, transparency and accountability. And that's not what's happening right now. »
“I can't analyze the organization from the inside. I understand what we [les équipes] let's try to hold this together. But it's good that the drivers are united on this important issue (the relationship with the FIA), as they have shown. »
“Teams have a common understanding of what is right and wrong. Everyone just needs to look in the mirror and ask themselves, 'Am I contributing the best to this sport, or not?' »
While the GPDA unanimously questions the management of President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is the president of the FIA not fundamentally right in responding that these internal affairs do not concern the drivers?
“I think Ben Sulayem can fire as many people as he wants; It’s his organization, he’s its president,” added Wolff.
“It’s not something that anyone else can intervene in.” »
“Where it becomes important for pilots and for all of us is: 'Does this improve the decision-making process? Does this improve the regulations? Is the sport improving due to these changes in organization and personnel?' »
“If the answer to all of these questions is yes, then this remains an internal matter that he must handle. »
“But obviously what is relayed in the media and the possible repercussions in terms of negativity and reputation, it affects us all. »
“And that’s also what I meant; we are all in this sport, all the players – the media, the FIA, the drivers, the teams, Liberty, Stefano [Domenicali] who runs it – and in times when there is so much polarization, so much conflict, rationality must prevail. And for me, that’s not what I’m seeing right now. »
A brutal penalty for Lando Norris, judge Toto Wolff
The FIA also angered McLaren F1, by imposing a very heavy sanction (stop and go of 10 seconds), when Lando Norris actually failed to observe a double yellow flag on the main straight in Qatar.
Toto Wolff considers that this penalty was unjustified (even the FIA explained the opposite this morning here) and this time attacks the track marshals (remember that Rui Marques did not intervene in this decision).
“I think the penalties were brutal, especially for McLaren, it could cost them the championship. »
“I don't know exactly what the infraction was, but the most important thing is that there is consistency… If the race director takes a hard line, it's acceptable as long as everyone knows that it This is the rule and we must comply with it. »
Related News :