Charlie Whiting has defended the decision in Spain to move Lewis Hamilton from pole to the very rear of the grid.

Although McLaren was widely criticised for making a grave error, the stewards’ penalty was at the same time described by the world’s press as “draconian”.

“Quite frankly I did not expect the penalty that we received,” said McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Indeed, given that McLaren’s fuel indiscretion occurred only in the decisive Q3, why not simply delete Hamilton’s Q3 laptimes, thereby putting the Briton mid-grid for the race?

“We had no room to move,” Whiting, the FIA’s race director, responded to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport when told that Hamilton’s penalty seemed too severe.

“If there is a violation, it applies to the whole session, not just part of it,” he insisted. “Qualifying begins with Q1.”

Whiting explained that if Hamilton had only lost his Q3 time, a precedent would have been set tempting teams to risk not being checked for the mandatory 1 litre fuel sample in post-qualifying scrutineering.

Auto Motor und Sport said only one or two fuel samples are actually checked after qualifying at grands prix.

Competitors could, therefore, genuinely “run the risk” of using less fuel than is allowed in Q3, if the penalty for being caught is relatively light, Whiting argued.

He recalled last year’s German grand prix, when Sebastien Buemi was sent to the back of the grid because his fuel sample showed irregularities.

As it was not possible to check if the illegal fuel had also been used in Q1 and Q2, the Toro Rosso driver had to be disqualified from qualifying, Whiting argued.

 F1′s governing body reportedly rejected a push to lower the in-race pitlane speed limit from 100 to 60kph for 2012.
The latest edition of Italian magazine Autosprint said FIA president Jean Todt made the decision after reviewing the widespread lower speed limits in other major series, including Le Mans, GT1 and Nascar.

It was said the change would have a major impact on race strategy this year.

But in the wake of the Autosprint report, Britain’s BBC claims the FIA in fact rejected a push by the teams to lower the speed limit to 60.

Race director Charlie Whiting reportedly “told them he feels there is no need to make the change as there is no evidence that the current arrangement is unsafe”, according to the broadcaster.

Instead, the 2012 rules state that the race limit is 100kph at most races, but that the speed “may be amended by the stewards following a recommendation from the FIA F1 safety delegate”.

The F1 world can expect a much better experience at the Korean grand prix this weekend.

When the barely-finished Yeongham venue hosted its inaugural race a year ago, officials, drivers, team members and journalists bemoaned the sub-standard facilities and organisation.

Another bone of contention was the so-called ‘love motels’ accommodation, normally frequented by prostitutes and their clients.

“Last year, we had many difficult problems holding the very first Korean grand prix,” race chairman Park Joon-yung told the local JoongAng daily.

“However, based on the experience and knowledge we gained last year, I am confident that the event this year will be much improved.”

The early reports from those checking into their hotels and arriving at the circuit this week is that the situation in Korea this year is vastly improved.

“We’re hoping for a slightly easier race this year than last. 2010 was very difficult for a number of reasons,” said FIA race director Charlie Whiting.

The weather should also be much better this weekend, after torrential rain disrupted last October’s inaugural race.

Formula one drivers have asked to discuss Lewis Hamilton’s recent driving during a meeting ahead of the Japanese grand prix at Suzuka.
That is the claim of Italian specialist magazine Autosprint after the McLaren driver’s latest run-in last weekend in Singapore, where Felipe Massa physically confronted the Briton.

Ferrari’s Massa sarcastically suggested 26-year-old Hamilton should call upon his father for help, while Anthony Hamilton blamed a failure of support by his son’s new management led by entertainment agent Simon Fuller.

Former driver Hans-Joachim Stuck, meanwhile, has suggested Hamilton needs a “therapist”, while David Coulthard thinks he needs a wise manager like Martin Brundle.

“It doesn’t have to be a manager necessarily,” the Scot wrote in the Telegraph, “but you need someone to be able to sit down and talk to you with complete honesty. To tell you you’re being an idiot.”

Autosprint claims Hamilton’s rivals have asked FIA race director Charlie Whiting to allow a conversation about his overly aggressive driving style during the Suzuka briefing.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh acknowledged 2011 has “not been a good season for Lewis Hamilton” but said the tone of the latest criticism “is wrong”.

“Lewis is still a young guy, he is learning and he will learn from all of this. He will win races and I am sure he is going to win more championships,” he added.

Stewards failed to notice an incident that should have seen Michael Schumacher penalised during the Italian grand prix.

That is the claim of former F1 driver Derek Daly, who was the third official in the stewards’ room at Monza.

Since last weekend’s race, many F1 commentators and figures have suggested Schumacher should have been penalised for his antics during a scrap with Lewis Hamilton.

Irishman Daly, 58, said the stewards were too busy.

“Race director Charlie Whiting asked the stewards to look at an incident between Massa and Trulli at the second chicane,” he is quoted by the Mirror.

“While looking at the slow motion, I missed the Schumacher/Hamilton incident.”

Daly is quoted by The Sun as describing the move, when he finally saw it on television at home, as a “blatant double-block”.

“Schumacher was warned repeatedly and should have been given a drive through penalty,” he said. “We let Charlie down with this one.”

There will only be a single ‘DRS’ overtaking zone at Silverstone this weekend.
In Canada and again at Valencia two weeks ago, there were two overtaking zones but only a single detection point — a system that arguably worked too well in Canada, and not well enough on the streets of the Spanish port city.

For Silverstone, the FIA has reverted to the formula of the first six races of 2011, with a single detection zone at the new Village corner (turn 3) and eligible drivers able to trigger the rear wing after turn 4.

This weekend is the F1 debut of Silverstone’s new Wing pit and paddock complex, but the only real changes for the drivers is the pitlane and the location of the new Turn 1.

“The (pit) entry is shorter than staying on the circuit, so we will have to ensure that drivers don’t use these changes to the pits to their advantage,” said race director Charlie Whiting.

On the stewards’ panel this weekend is 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell.

“As for the (pit) exit,” continued Whiting, “this is now quite a steep uphill into an extremely fast corner, so it’s certainly going to be different. It’s going to be quite significant in terms of strategy as there’s not too much cost in changing tyres.”

Team mechanics in 2011 will be barred from working all night on formula one cars before practice days.

The new rule emerged as, late on Monday, the FIA published the full sporting and technical regulations for next season.

The mechanics curfew will apply to team personnel “associated in any way with the operation of the cars” between midnight to 6am when practice is due to start at 10am, or 1am to 7am if practice is scheduled for 11am.

“However, each team will be permitted four individual exceptions to the above during a championship season,” the FIA said.

Another new rule for 2011 relates to driving standards, probably inspired by Michael Schumacher’s controversial move on Rubens Barrichello in Hungary this year.

“Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted,” said the FIA.

Stewards also have new powers to penalise drivers, including by imposing a one-race ban.

The one-gearbox-per-four-races rule has been toughened to five races in 2011, with one penalty-free gearbox change per driver allowed.

Meanwhile, the race director has been given the power to close the pit entry during races “for safety reasons”.

The appointment as steward of an Italian driver with close ties to Ferrari has raised some eyebrows within the F1 paddock in Abu Dhabi.

Emanuele Pirro, who contested grands prix in the early 90s for the Scuderia Italia team, is making his first appearance as an FIA official this weekend for the 2010 world championship showdown.

48-year-old Pirro now races vintage Ferrari cars, and on his website is a picture of a 1971 Ferrari 512M with the caption ‘All Italian boys love Ferraris’.

The news has led to claims he should not be adjudicating at a grand prix where a Ferrari driver – Fernando Alonso – stands to win the title.

An FIA spokeswoman told the Daily Mail: “We selected the stewards some while ago.”

Bild correspondent Tobias Holtkamp wrote: “Imagine it’s the World Cup final, with Italy playing Germany. And the referee is from Rome.

“It’s unthinkable. Only in formula one is it possible.”

Race director Charlie Whiting responded: “I have no problem with it.

“A few years ago Max Mosley as FIA president ordered that only stewards not associated with a team or driver can be appointed.

“In practice, this was unfortunately not sustainable. There simply are not enough to choose from.”

The FIA has reacted swiftly to drivers’ concerns about the pit entry in Korea.

Numerous drivers on Friday warned that the fact the entry to the new Yeongam circuit’s pitlane is on the racing line in a fast corner is a safety issue.

“Someone coming into the pits will be slower than the guy behind who is staying on the track,” said Sebastian Vettel.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, after meeting with the drivers late on Friday, race director Charlie Whiting has agreed to a quick fix.

The white line on the pit entry is being removed overnight, meaning drivers coming into the pits can remain on the power through the fast corner and then sweep into the pits at the last moment.

“So the difference in pace between those coming into the pits and those staying out is not so great,” confirmed Mark Webber.

It is also believed that a kerb at another fast corner is being slightly relocated, while the height difference between the kerbs and the track at turns 16 and 10 will also be attended to in the future.

“I am sure it’s just teething problems and people will look at that and see what they can do,” said McLaren and FOTA boss Martin Whitmarsh.

More generally, following the media’s horror stories of the past months, the F1 paddock seemed surprisingly happy with the venue on Friday, and the drivers gave the actual layout a big thumbs-up.

Nico Rosberg said Yeongam is “very interesting” with “some great combinations of corners”, and Fernando Alonso agreed the layout has “a bit of everything”.

And the venue itself was also being praised on Friday, despite some minor earlier complaints about electricity and gas supply issues, and internet dropouts in the media centre on Friday.

“With the government and organisers spending this kind of money we need to be thankful as it is something amazing, no doubt about it,” said Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali.

The most genuine complaint is about the accommodation, even though the well-heeled drivers and management are enjoying the five-star Hyundai Hotel.

Buzzing around the paddock are stories told by journalists and mechanics about sex toys in vending machines and rooms that are obviously frequented by prostitutes.

“Maybe they (the organisers) can work on that for the future,” said Vettel.

After an 80 minute delay, race control has finally confirmed that qualifying will not take place at Suzuka on Saturday.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting confirmed that the session will now take place on Sunday morning at 10am, with the stewards to confirm that decision shortly.

It is believed the decision was taken at 1520 – instead of 1630 as earlier expected – because the natural light has already begun to fade.

Upon learning of the decision, Sebastian Vettel came out of the Red Bull garage to applaud the massed grandstands, with the passionate Japanese fans having patiently waited for cars that ultimately did not run.

“I hope they all turn up tomorrow for a busy day,” said Heikki Kovalainen.

Charlie Whiting has admitted qualifying will not take place in Saturday afternoon’s heavy rain.

With the session already officially delayed for 90 minutes beyond the scheduled 1400 start-time, the FIA will wait until 1630 – when the light will be fading – before announcing the postponement of qualifying to 10am on Sunday.

But as bored drivers and team personnel pushed makeshift boats down the pitlane stream, the BBC ceased its live broadcast and the Virgin drivers played poker in the garage, race director Whiting all but admitted the Sunday postponement is now a certainty.

“With so much rain, we cannot start qualifying — not in these conditions,” Whiting told France’s Auto Hebdo website.

He said he will recommend to the stewards that qualifying be held on Sunday morning.

“That’s feasible because there is no minimum time between qualifying and the race,” the Briton confirmed.

Suzuka qualifying has been delayed for at least 30 minutes by the FIA.

The session had been scheduled to begin at 2pm local, but after an inspection by the safety car, race director Charlie Whiting has decided on the delay to give the torrential conditions a chance to subside.

Just before 1430, the FIA will inspect the circuit again, and teams will be given 10 minutes notice of a session start.

If the conditions are still too unsafe, a series of 15 minute delays might then be commenced, and if the conditions are still too unsafe at 1630, the session will be postponed altogether due to fading light.

If that happens, qualifying will be held at 10am on Sunday morning, when the rain is scheduled to have stopped.

“I imagine qualifying will be tomorrow,” McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told BBC commentator Martin Brundle at 1400 precisely.

World champion Jenson Button added: “If it carries on like this, we’re not going to be out today.”

Charlie Whiting will be poised to begin qualifying as scheduled at 2pm local.

But under the pouring Suzuka skies and with rivers of water running down the sloped pitlane, British television BBC reports that if the FIA race director believes the conditions are not safe at 2pm, he will delay the start of the session for 15 minutes.

These 15 minute delays could then continue for up to 2 hours — when the Japanese sun will be too low in the sky for the session to conclude in sufficient light.

The broadcaster also reported that the stewards’ driver advisor this weekend, Alex Wurz, thinks the session should be called off altogether, with 10am on Sunday already pencilled in by the FIA as a potential delayed timeslot.

“We are not sure of the merits of running in these conditions,” said Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn.  “It will be too dangerous.

“I will be disappointed if we start qualifying.  We could have the grid decided by championship order, that’s happened before,” he added.

F1′s governing body is investigating how Felipe Massa escaped penalty despite getting a head-start in last Sunday’s Belgian grand prix.
 
As the cars lined up on the Spa-Francorchamps grid, BBC commentator Martin Brundle noticed that the Brazilian’s Ferrari was about “two metres” ahead of its starting box.
 
And a spectator’s amateur footage, posted on video sharing website Youtube, backs Brundle’s observation, even though the race director, stewards and rival teams and drivers apparently did not notice or report Massa’s head-start.
 
The Telegraph said the FIA has launched an investigation into how Massa escaped without a drive-through penalty.
 
The report said the transponder on the floor of Massa’s F10 did not send a signal to the tarmac sensor because he was too far out of position, while the marshals did not alert the race director manually.
 
“As no further information or complaints were received before the publication of the official result on Sunday night, the classification of the Belgian grand prix will now remain unchanged,” said an FIA spokeswoman.
 
“The FIA are investigating the causes of the apparent failures in communication with race control in order to ensure a repetition is not possible,” she added.

Formula one teams have lost the ability to censor pit radio messages during official track sessions.

Recently, the sport’s broadcasting officials gained access to the radio feeds, but the pitwall retained the ability to press a button to censor certain messages.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, as of this weekend’s Hockenheim event, all radio broadcasts will be eligible to for the worldwide television feed.

A short delay will mean that radio messages containing swearing can be edited.

Australia’s Mark Webber said at Hockenheim that if he had doused his “not bad for a number two” comment with colourful language at Silverstone, “maybe it would never have got run”.

Also joking, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said Webber’s comments had been the biggest lesson of the British grand prix.

“Turn the radio off after the race!” he said.

Mercedes’ Ross Brawn, however, has warned that not allowing some control of the radio messages will lead to teams speaking “in code” about important strategic conversations.

A new approach is also being applied to in-race radio conversations between the FIA and the teams, due to the confusion in the wake of Fernando Alonso’s illegal pass on Robert Kubica at Silverstone.

Where previously, race director Charlie Whiting would make recommendations about the competitor’s actions, an actual decision will now be made within 90 seconds and displayed to the team via the pitwall monitor.

Kubica is quoted by Turun Sanomat: “I would have given the place back without being asked — it is my way of thinking.

“There’s no point taking the risk about what happened,” he added.