The FIA have summoned Aston Martin, Red Bull and Williams to attend the virtual hearing regarding Haas’ right of review request into the United States Grand Prix result.
During the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, it was documented that Haas had acted on its right to initiate a right of review process into the race in Austin amid its stance that several drivers had gone unpunished for exceeding track limits during the 56-lap encounter at the Circuit of the Americas.
Haas flagged Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and the two Williams drivers – Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant – as the most notorious offenders of cutting track limits at Turn 6.
Video evidence on Sunday evening revealed that a selection of competitors had continuously utilised running wide to shorten off the corner, thereby reducing their lap time.
The sport’s governing body acknowledged post-race that it had access to the onboard cameras available but admitted it didn’t possess the necessary CCTV footage and monitoring equipment at the particular corner in question to be in a suitable position to discipline any drivers.
Haas, who missed out on the points at its home race, would stand to gain from any potential sanctions being issued.
Nico Hulkenberg finished within five seconds of Albon, who remained in ninth place once his time penalty was applied for committing four separate track limit infringements. The Anglo-Thai driver was noted on a further two occasions, bringing his overall total to six.
However, if Haas’ review proves successful and Albon is determined guilty of committing more offences, Hulkenberg could profit from an additional penalty being issued.
It has been confirmed that the FIA has agreed to hear Haas’ case, with the relevant rival teams also being collected to attend the hearing on Wednesday at 3pm CET.
Following the usual FIA protocol, Haas must first deliver a “significant and relevant new element which was unavailable to the party seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned” to the United States GP race stewards via a video conference.
The stewards for the Austin round – Dennis Dean, Felix Holter, Andrew Mallalieu, and Derek Warwick – will then discuss whether Haas has provided the grounds for a review.
If they then agree that the American squad has presented a reasonable basis for a case, then a second part of the hearing will be opened “at a time to be advised”.
So now FIA still won’t admit how reliable their method of monitoring ‘out of track limit’ excursions, even on those turns known to have regular excisions. They can’t even reliably describe to various ‘manual’ and automated monitoring!!
Yet this is a very sensitive subjectfor the drivers as well as fans and media.
A large amount of effort by FIA is required.
Maybe a definitive description of the monitoring process through to award of penalty.