Formulation One’s governing physique mentioned on Thursday it would announce in March, on the eve of the opening race in Bahrain, the end result of an investigation into final season’s controversial Abu Dhabi finale.
The 2021 title was gained by Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen after a change to the standard security automobile process allowed him to overhaul Lewis Hamilton on the final lap and denied the Mercedes driver a file eighth title.
The FIA recognised final month that the uproar was tarnishing the picture of the championship and mentioned it could perform a radical evaluation with all groups and drivers to be consulted.
Lewis Hamilton (left) was denied the F1 title when Max Verstappen pipped him to the road within the essential Abu Dhabi race after a contentious name by F1 race director Michael Masi
There was criticism on social media of the obvious sluggish tempo of the investigation, with ideas that Hamilton’s future within the sport might rely on the end result.
The Briton has been silent since Abu Dhabi, making no touch upon occasions.
The FIA, additionally largely silent on the method in latest weeks, issued a timetable on Thursday and mentioned the Sporting Advisory Committee would meet on Jan. 19 and have a look at using the security automobile.
‘The next stage can be a shared dialogue with all F1 drivers,’ it mentioned.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff (left) will communicate to new F1 ruler Mohammed Ben Sulayem (proper) to debate the farcical conclusion to final season
‘The result of the detailed evaluation can be offered to the F1 Fee in February and remaining selections can be introduced on the World Motor Sport Council in Bahrain on 18 March.’
It mentioned newly-elected FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had requested Peter Bayer, the secretary normal for sport, for ‘proposals to evaluate and optimise the organisation of the FIA F1 construction for the 2022 season.’
Hamilton was denied a hard-earned victory, and a file eighth championship, when the race was restarted after a safety-car part and Pink Bull’s Verstappen exploited the brand new tyres he was on — a strategic alternative — to energy to victory on the ultimate lap.
Since then Hamilton, 37, has declined to decide to seeing out the rest of his two-year contract with Mercedes.
Mercedes will demand that Masi (above) is sacking over the lapped automobiles name in Abu Dhabi
Mercedes withdrew their authorized motion towards the FIA, believing they don’t have any probability of profitable an attraction on the idea it could require the FIA to overturn their very own stewards at additional nice harm to the game, however demanded the thorough investigation that’s at the moment being carried out to restore F1’s integrity.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff will sit down with Ben Sulayem, a 61-year-old rally driver from Dubai on Friday to debate the farcical conclusion to final season in a gathering that can go a protracted approach to deciding Hamilton’s future.
For now, race director Michael Masi, 42, stays in publish. His place can be a key merchandise when Wolff meets Ben Sulayem.
Sources point out Masi’s sacking is a key requirement for Mercedes, although they deny that his departure is a quid professional quo to Hamilton staying on. They search broader reform.
Mercedes star Hamilton is prone to keep it up however the end result of this new assembly can be essential
A supply advised Sportsmail: ‘The Abu Dhabi matter is the primary situation on the brand new president’s agenda. He desires to provide you with a response. The deadline is the World Motor Sport Council assembly on February 3 — however there could also be information earlier than then, such is the urgency of this.’
The FIA appears torn on Masi’s destiny. It’s anticipated his head will roll, however considered one of Ben Sulayem’s chief supporters, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, whose Brazilian spouse Fabiana is the primary lady to be elected vice-president for sport in South America, advised Sportsmail: ‘I see no cause in any way why Michael mustn’t proceed in his job.
‘He did what he thought what was greatest. You possibly can say I’d do that or that or the opposite. However it could have been terrible if the ultimate race had ended beneath a security automobile. Michael would have gotten in simply as a lot bother. He is an effective man and the FIA ought to stick by him.’
It appears seemingly that Hamilton will race on. He’ll obtain at the very least £30million a yr and he clearly has unfinished enterprise. Tellingly, Mercedes haven’t drawn up a severe contingency checklist of replacements.