The FIA has completed a seven-month review of 2024 F1 cost cap compliance, finding Aston Martin as the only team with a minor procedural breach related to unsigned documentation, while other teams and engine manufacturers are cleared; Aston Martin's breach was deemed minor and did not confer any advantage.
Aston Martin admitted to a minor procedural breach related to missing signatures in their F1 cost cap submission, accepted an Accepted Breach Agreement, and faced no penalties, with the FIA expected to announce the final review results soon.
The FIA press conference for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix featured drivers discussing their confidence, team performance, championship challenges, and race strategies amid hot weather conditions and recent rule changes, highlighting Max Verstappen's ongoing title fight and the impact of heat hazards and increased pit lane speed limits.
Lewis Hamilton faces criticism and doubts about his future in F1 amid a tough start at Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc receives an additional penalty point from the FIA after a frustrating Hungarian GP. Bernie Ecclestone suggests Hamilton should retire, and Leclerc offers reassurance to Hamilton, who vows to return stronger after the summer break.
Former FIA steward Tim Mayer is set to challenge incumbent FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in the upcoming December election, after announcing his candidacy amid a background of controversy and his recent dismissal from FIA roles following disputes related to the US Grand Prix.
Tim Mayer, son of McLaren co-founder Teddy Mayer, is set to announce his candidacy for the FIA presidency in December, challenging incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem, amid a backdrop of recent firings of senior officials within the FIA.
The FIA published its comprehensive guidelines for penalties and points in Formula 1, detailing sanctions for various offenses across practice, qualifying, and race events, including driving infringements, track violations, safety breaches, and misconduct, with specific penalties such as grid drops, time penalties, disqualifications, and fines.
The FIA is implementing stricter load tests on F1 front wings at the Spanish Grand Prix to address concerns about wing flexibility and aerodynamic performance, with tougher tests introduced later in the season after analysis of previous races and rear wing adjustments. These changes aim to prevent teams from exploiting wing flexing to gain aerodynamic advantages, and will involve more rigorous static load tests and regular component checks throughout the season.
The FIA has approved controversial changes to its ethics and audit committees, granting more power to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the president of its senate, Carmelo Sanz De Barros. These changes, which limit the committees' independence and oversight capabilities, have sparked concerns among F1 teams and officials about governance and accountability. Critics argue that the revisions could deter qualified individuals from joining the committees, as they may now be perceived as controlled by the leadership. The FIA claims the changes aim to enhance committee independence and protect confidential information.
Lewis Hamilton has been granted permission by the FIA to join the podium celebrations at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking his final race with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari next season. Despite starting 16th on the grid due to a qualifying mishap, Hamilton remains hopeful of a strong finish. The FIA's decision allows him to participate in the post-race celebrations regardless of his finishing position, acknowledging his significant contributions to the sport.
Fernando Alonso has weighed in on the controversy between Max Verstappen and George Russell following the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying incident. While Verstappen accused Russell of being 'two-faced' after losing pole position due to a penalty, Alonso believes the real issue lies with inconsistent F1 stewarding. Alonso expressed hope that the new race director, Rui Marques, will bring more consistency to the sport's regulations and penalties.
Formula One teams are urging the FIA to reassess its penalty system after Lando Norris received a severe 10-second stop-go penalty at the Qatar Grand Prix for not slowing under yellow flags, which significantly affected his race outcome. McLaren and other teams criticized the FIA's decision-making process, calling for more consistency and transparency. The incident, involving new race director Rui Marques, has intensified scrutiny on the FIA's governance, with concerns about its impact on the sport's reputation.
Lando Norris faced a severe penalty at the Qatar Grand Prix for not slowing down under double yellow flags, a situation exacerbated by race control's delayed response to a loose wing mirror on Alexander Albon's car. The incident, which should have prompted an immediate Safety Car deployment, led to chaos and punctures for other drivers. Norris's penalty, served 14 laps after the incident, significantly impacted his race, highlighting inconsistencies in race management and raising questions about the Williams car's safety standards.
Lando Norris received a 10-second stop-go penalty at the Qatar Grand Prix for failing to slow for double-waved yellow flags, which the FIA deemed a serious safety compromise. This penalty, the most severe before disqualification, was in line with guidelines issued to teams earlier in the year. The incident involved debris from Alex Albon's car, which led to punctures for other drivers and eventually a safety car deployment. The FIA plans to review the situation to determine if future actions should differ.
The Qatar Grand Prix highlighted growing scrutiny on the FIA's decision-making after controversial penalties were issued to Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Verstappen, who won the race, was penalized for allegedly impeding George Russell in qualifying, while Norris received a severe penalty for not slowing under yellow flags. These incidents have intensified calls for consistency and transparency in FIA rulings, amid recent leadership changes and high-profile exits within the organization.