FIA Announcements

Published: 08/03/2021

FIA ANNOUNCES WORLD MOTOR SPORT COUNCIL DECISIONS

The World Motor Sport Council convened today (05.03.2021) in Geneva for the first meeting of 2021. The meeting was hosted by FIA President Jean Todt with Deputy President Graham Stoker and WMSC members joining by video conference from around the world.

The FIA President led a one-minute silence which was observed by members in memory of all those from the global motor sport community who have fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also paid tribute to the Finnish rally driver Hannu Mikkola who passed away recently. The President said: “Hannu was a great champion and a gentleman. I’ve had the privilege of being his co-driver many years ago. My thoughts are with his loved ones and the families of the members of the FIA community who passed away due to the pandemic.”

FIA CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION INTO ROMAIN GROSJEAN'S ACCIDENT AT 2020 BAHRAIN FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX AND RELEASES 2021 CIRCUIT RACING SAFETY INITIATIVES

The FIA’s Safety department has completed its investigation into the accident in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship race at the Bahrain International Circuit on November 29, 2020, in which the Swiss-born French driver Romain Grosjean crashed into the barrier 180 metres after the apex of Turn 3 and his Haas F1 team car caught fire before he escaped with significant but not life-threatening injuries.

The investigation included interviews with those involved, inspection of the physical evidence, analysis of available video material, as well as examination of the data from the car’s accident data recorder and driver’s ear accelerometers.

This investigative work has been peer-reviewed by the FIA Serious Accident Study Group, led by FIA President Jean Todt. Input into the investigation was also received from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. The findings of the investigation were presented to the FIA’s Circuits Commission, Medical Commission, Single Seater Commission, F1 Commission, Safety Commission, Volunteers and Officials Commission, and the World Motor Sport Council. The findings will also be presented in the Drivers’ Commission on March 23, 2021.

The objective of the accident investigation was to identify factors that contributed to the accident consequence, as well as other tertiary factors that did not influence the severity of the outcome but nonetheless provide invaluable learnings for the FIA’s ongoing efforts to improve safety in motor sport.

For more information please visit: FIA concludes investigation into Romain Grosjean's accident at 2020 Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix and releases 2021 circuit racing safety initiatives | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile

FIA Formula One World Championship

The World Council has agreed to grant a one-year extension to the existing exclusive tyre supply contract with Pirelli to reflect the original intention of the 2018 tyre tender and remain within the overall technical framework in the best interests of all relevant stakeholders. The COVID-19 pandemic obliged the FIA and Formula 1 to implement emergency measures that included the cancellation of tyre development tests last year and the postponement of planned new technical regulations – which included 18-inch tyres – from 2021 to 2022. As a result, 13-inch tyres will be used during the 2021 season, with a move to 18-inch tyres in 2022.

Following the confirmation of Portugal as the venue for round three, the revised 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is as follows:

*Subject to circuit homologation