The FIA is introducing changes to the ‘right to review’ process after Haas unsuccessfully launched a protest against Red Bull, Aston Martin and Williams for track limit violations at the United States Grand Prix.
The conversation regarding the process was sparked off the back of the recent triple-header with Haas launching their protest for the United States GP after the following race in Mexico City had already taken place.
F1’s only American team were claiming that on-board camera footage from the cars of Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant had not been aptly considered, claiming that these drivers committed, collectively, dozens of track limit violations that went unpunished.
If punished in line with Haas’ demands, Nico Hulkenberg would have been promoted to P7 from outside of the points, earning Guenther Steiner’s team priceless points in their battle to avoid finishing the season at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.
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However, the FIA eventually dismissed the protest, insisting that there was no evidence presented by Haas that hadn’t already been considered. Off the back of this failed process, changes are being made.
According to a report from Motorsport.com, the FIA is set to decrease the window in which teams can apply for a right to review following the conclusion of a race from 14 days to four, while also adding a fee of £5,200 (€6,000) to each review.
This would have dramatically hindered Haas’ case if these rules had been implemented prior to the United States GP review. They utilised the full 14-day allowance to compile mountains of evidence, leading to a confusing situation for fans and a convoluted review process.
The FIA’s changes come following criticisms from McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who said: “I think it makes no sense to revisit in hindsight because had you had information all competitors could have adapted what they did.
“So this is certainly not something that you can act upon in hindsight, because it does affect what you do live. So, just in my view, Haas they have the right to request that.
“But I think what we need to work is just a more robust way of determining the track limits and policing it. But then once an event is gone, is finished, then we move on to the next.”