Breaking News: FIA confirm official ruling over F1 team running ONE car at Australian Grand Prix….seemore
The Formula 1 Haas Team faced significant challenges during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, culminating in a decision by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) regarding their participation.
Qualifying Challenges
Haas driver Oliver Bearman encountered a series of setbacks during the weekend. In the opening practice session on Friday, Bearman crashed, leading to repairs that caused him to miss the subsequent session. On Saturday, he spun off during his first flying lap in final practice, became stuck in the gravel, and later experienced a gearbox issue during qualifying, preventing him from setting a lap time. His teammate, Esteban Ocon, managed to record the slowest lap time, securing the 19th position on the grid. Team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed surprise at the car’s lack of pace, particularly in high-speed corners, and stressed the urgency of finding solutions, possibly hoping for rain to improve their situation.
FIA Decision on Race Participation
Following these qualifying issues, the FIA received a request from Haas to allow Bearman to participate in the race despite his failure to set a lap time in Q1. The Stewards reviewed the situation and granted permission for Bearman to start the race, citing his satisfactory practice times earlier in the weekend. This decision ensured that Haas would not have to run a single-car entry, maintaining both cars on the grid for the race.
Regulatory Context
The FIA’s decision aligns with Article 39.4(b) of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which allows for such exceptions under specific circumstances. This provision ensures that teams facing exceptional situations are not unduly penalized, maintaining fairness and competitiveness within the sport.
In summary, despite a tumultuous weekend marked by technical issues and on-track incidents, the FIA’s intervention allowed Haas to field both cars in the Australian Grand Prix, preserving their full team participation.
