The highly anticipated debut of the F4 Indian Championship at the inaugural Indian Racing Festival (IRF) 2024 in Chennai was delayed on Friday due to technical issues on the brand-new street circuit. The organizers are working to resolve the issues, primarily related to track safety, and aim to provide an updated schedule by 5 pm.
The Formula One safety car crashed during testing at Monza on Thursday, but the incident will not affect the Italian Grand Prix. An additional safety car is available, and the driver and passenger are unharmed.
Formula One Management’s (FOM) rejection of Andretti’s bid to enter the 2024 Formula 1 season remains a highly contentious topic, with Mario Andretti expressing disappointment at the offer to reapply in 2028. Andretti’s team has secured General Motors as an engine supplier, which has prompted speculation about a potential conspiracy at play against his team. Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, has voiced strong opposition to Andretti’s application, citing the potential dilution of the prize money pool. However, Michael Andretti believes his team’s entry would expand the pool, not diminish it, with support from American conglomerates.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, has accused the media of attempting to damage his reputation and claimed that he does not care about the approval of F1 drivers and teams. Ben Sulayem’s comments come after a turbulent spell in office, marked by controversies such as the Susie Wolff investigation, his appearance before the FIA Ethics Committee, and his public disagreements with Lewis Hamilton. Despite the opposition he has faced, Ben Sulayem insists that he has the support of the FIA members who elected him and is determined to continue his work.
The FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and Formula One teams are considering expanding the points-scoring positions from the current 10 to 12, with the change set to be discussed in the near future. The move would see just eight cars not scoring points in Sunday races, with the aim of providing more incentive and competition for teams in the midfield.
Formula One teams are set to discuss a proposal to extend the points-scoring positions from 10th down to 12th place in the coming season. Currently, points are only awarded to drivers finishing in the top 10, with the winner receiving 25 points and the 10th-place finisher receiving 1 point. The proposed change would see points awarded to the top 12 finishers, with the winner still receiving 25 points and the 12th-place finisher receiving 1 point. This move is supported by several teams, including Ferrari and Haas, who believe that it would help to make the races more interesting for teams in the midfield and at the back of the grid. However, some teams, such as Red Bull, have expressed concerns that it could devalue the achievement of finishing in the top 10.
Former Formula 1 driver and current FIA steward Johnny Herbert has revealed he received death threats from fans of Fernando Alonso following his decision to penalize the Spaniard at the Australian Grand Prix. Herbert maintains he will remain in his role despite the backlash, citing the need for consistency and fairness in stewarding decisions. Alonso’s fans criticized Herbert’s decision, citing his past critical remarks towards Alonso. Herbert acknowledges the tension between them but emphasizes the impartiality required in his role as steward.
The FIA’s proposed technical rule changes for the 2025 and 2026 WRC seasons have been met with resistance from manufacturers Toyota, Hyundai, and M-Sport Ford, who prefer to retain the current Rally1 regulations. The FIA aims to reduce hybrid power, aerodynamics, and air restrictor size to align the Rally1 cars more closely with Rally2 vehicles, while also introducing an upgrade kit for Rally2 cars. Manufacturers express concerns about the short timeline and resource costs for developing revised Rally1 cars, urging the FIA to focus on the 2027 regulations instead. The FIA acknowledges manufacturers’ concerns and aims to reach a compromise by May, before presenting its decision to teams in June.
