The FIA World Council met for the last time in 2022 at the Savoia Regency Hotel in Bologna. The president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with regard to Formula 1 has formalized a calendar with 23 GPs having officially skipped the Chinese Grand Prix. The 2023 season will be record-breaking, but the loss of a race was ultimately greeted with a smile by the teams and insiders, since Shanghai’s replacement does not appear to be expected.
Confirmed the sprint races in six appointments
Azerbaijan GP (Baku City Circuit) 28-30 April
Austrian GP (Red Bull Ring) 30 June-2 July
Belgian GP (Spa-Francorchamps) 28-30 July
Qatar GP (Losail International Circuit) 06-08 October
United States GP (Austin) 20-22 October
Brazilian GP (Autódromo José Carlos Pace) 3-5 November
Approvals of the Roll Hoop 2024
From a technical point of view, a significant increase in the loads to which the Roll Hoop must withstand starting from 2024 was required after the frightening crash of Guanyu Zhou’s Alfa Romeo C42 which saw the roll-bar torn from the chassis.
The FIA will impose more stringent homologation tests with higher horizontal loads which will require better fixing of the roll hoop to the chassis structure.
Lump sum compensation for the races
There are also changes regarding the 2023 and 2024 Financial Regulations: a flat-rate indemnity of 300,000 dollars has been introduced for each Sprint race on the calendar, which doubles the value granted this year, but from 2023 the elimination of any subsequent economic adjustment in case of damages due to accidents suffered during the races.
The members of the World Council have received an update on the dossiers discussed at the last meeting of the F1 Commission, without having been brought for approval.
Relaxed the COVID-19 protocol
Furthermore, the FIA continues to evolve the COVID-19 protocol in line with the changes of the pandemic: it has been proposed to relax the COVID-19 protocol for the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Participants who will not be “eligible to participate” (i.e., those with symptoms of COVID-19 or a confirmed COVID-19 infection) will not be permitted to enter the “high density” areas. There will be no vaccination requirement and the FIA will no longer organize testing facilities on site, but will inform interested parties of locally available facilities.
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