The FIA has formally updated the International Sporting Code to implement changes to the review process through which Formula 1 teams can challenge the Federation’s decisions.
The governing body wants teams to “think twice” before proceeding with reviews, and to achieve this, the time available to submit a request will be reduced, and a fee will be introduced.
The new rules apply to all series sanctioned by the FIA, but Formula 1 cases have inevitably been more prominent over the years.
In 2023, there were four examples involving Aston Martin (in Saudi Arabia), Ferrari (in Australia), McLaren (in Austria), and Haas (in Austin).
Regulation Changes
Previously, teams had 14 days from the end of the race to file a request; now, the duration has been shortened to 96 hours, with the possibility for the stewards to grant an extra day in specific cases.
The relevant ISC paragraph now reads: “The period during which a request for review may be made expires after 96 hours from the end of the race in question, except in cases where the stewards believe that compliance with the 96-hour limit is impossible, in which case the stewards may extend this limit by no more than 24 hours.”
Previously, there was no fee for filing a petition for the right to review, but now teams must pay it in advance.
A new ISC article states that a request “must be accompanied by a deposit, the amount of which will be set annually by the international series’ mother ASN; or by the FIA for its championships, cups, trophies, challenges, or series.”
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
“Furthermore, the deposit must be specified in the sporting regulations or supplementary regulations of the competition. This deposit can only be refunded if the right to review is upheld, unless equity requires otherwise,” it reads.
The new rules establish that “the appeal deposit is due from the moment the appellant notifies the stewards of the intention to appeal and becomes payable at the time of the notification of the appeal. The deposit remains due even if the appellant does not follow through on the stated intention to appeal.”
Additionally, the FIA has reserved the right to further investigate cases where an appeal is notified but not pursued, for example, if a driver potentially gained an advantage by starting from their original grid position after the appeal notification. In such cases, a penalty could be applied.
Henceforth, “when the appellant has derived a benefit from the intention to appeal, the request for withdrawal must be considered at a subsequent hearing,” and subsequently, “the ICA [International Court of Appeal] will rule on the consequences and costs arising from the withdrawal of the intention to appeal.”
Leave a Reply