FORMULA One’s governing body postponed the bulk of a ban on radio and pit board messages until next season after deciding yesterday that this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix was too early for teams to adapt to the new restrictions.
Teams were told last week that any talk over the radio or via a pit board about the performance of the car or driver would be considered a contravention of Article 20.1 of the sporting regulations and result in punishment.
However, hours before first practice at the floodlit Marina Bay Street Circuit yesterday, the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced it had revised the plans.
“Messages concerning a driver’s own performance will not be allowed, but the expected ban on those relating to car performance will now be postponed until 2015 to give teams more time to prepare,” the body said.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told reporters on Thursday he had been behind the original decision and wanted less talk on the radio during races. He also suggested more restrictions should be introduced in future.
“They drive the cars, they should know what is wrong or right,” he said. “They don’t need someone on the pit wall telling them what to do.”
The FIA said it had met with the 11 team managers and opted to delay the bulk of changes until 2015 ‘due to the complexity of introducing such a ban at short notice and the potential for significantly differing effects between teams.’
Williams technical head Pat Symonds welcomed the decision to postpone the ban on radio messages regarding car performance but made clear he felt the changes were unnecessary.
“The position (now) is that we’ve taken away the ban on managing the power unit. So as a team we can still manage the power unit and we can advise the driver what to do,” he told Sky Sports News television.
“What we can’t do at the moment is help him with his driving style to find time that way. It’s a half-way house. I think it’s pragmatic. Whether it’s sensible or not I think is open to debate.”
On a wider level, Symonds questioned whether Formula One needed to ban messages that helped drivers improve their own performance.
The Briton also criticised Formula One’s bosses for announcing changes without seeking input from those who followed the sport.
“Unfortunately Formula One doesn’t ask the public what it does enjoy and that’s a great shame,” he said, suggesting the sport should be no different to others in recognising the involvement of coaches. Reuters