FIA names panel to improve F1 safety

Ross Brawn out of retirement

Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali, the former Mercedes and Ferrari team principals, are among a group of senior figures who will start work next week on improving safety in Formula One in the wake of Jules Bianchi's horrific accident.

Jean Todt, the FIA president, ordered the creation of the commission after Bianchi crashed into a recovery tractor at high speed during the rain-soaked Japanese Grand Prix, leaving the Frenchman in a "critical but stable" condition. Speaking days after the crash, Todt said: "We will learn from what has happened, because we cannot be facing such a situation again."

Brawn and Domenicali are among 10 experts who will present their full recommendations to the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Doha, Qatar, on Dec 3. They will be joined by Emerson Fittipaldi, the two-time drivers' champion, and Alex Wurz, the incoming head of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. It will be chaired by Peter Wright, the president of the FIA's safety commission.

However, Charlie Whiting, the F1 race director of nearly 20 years who is credited with dramatically improving safety with others in the wake of Ayrton Senna's death in 1994, is not on the panel. Whiting has defended how the race in Suzuka was run by the stewards. His counterpart in the FIA's premier sports car championship, Eduardo de Freitas, has been included.

In a statement, motorsport's governing body said: "The group will carry out a full review of the accident to gain a better understanding of what happened, and will propose new measures to reinforce safety at circuits, with recommendations to be made for the FIA president.

"The work of the group will start this week and a full presentation of its findings is to be made at the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Dec 3, 2014 in Doha, Qatar." The use of recovery tractors and speed limits in yellow flag conditions are likely to be high on the agenda of the panel.
Bianchi, meanwhile, remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital in Yokkaichi, Japan. Last week the 25 year-old's father, Philippe, said it was a "miracle" his son had survived and that every time the telephone rang he feared the worst.

Bianchi's fellow drivers have been understandably nervous since the crash on Oct 5. Kamui Kobayashi, of Caterham, admitted being "seriously troubled" by the safety of his car during the Russian Grand Prix weekend.

In a private Facebook post, the Japanese driver said: "Last night a suspension defect was found. There's no spare so it was repaired by wrapping it in carbon. It's checked all the time but, even so, being asked to race like this is too scary! I want to go home already."
In a message which has now been removed, he added: "I'm seriously troubled. As a racing driver, should I drive? Should I safely decline? I drive again in 15 minutes."

Kobayashi suffered a small problem with the rear suspension in Friday practice, which the team subsequently fixed. The 28-year-old retired in Sochi on lap 21. He claimed initially that there was "nothing wrong with the car" and the team had told him to stop to save mileage. Caterham denied this, adding a brake issue caused his race to be cut short. Kobayashi's future has been in doubt since the team was sold in July by Tony Fernandes, the Queens Park Rangers owner. It is unclear if Kobayashi will race at the next round in Austin, Texas.

The five key players on the FIA safety commission
Ross Brawn – The former Mercedes and Brawn team principal has been out of work since leaving Mercedes at the end of 2013. One of the most respected figures in the sport.
Stefano Domenicali – Left Ferrari after a troubled start to the 2014 season. A close ally of FIA President Jean Todt.
Emerson Fittipaldi – The 1972 and 1974 world champion has also served as a driver steward, and is president of the FIA drivers' commission.
Alex Wurz – The incoming head of the grand prix drivers' association will be the principal representative of the current drivers.
Peter Wright – A graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, Wright has been involved in motorsport since the 1970s. As president of the FIA's safety commission, he will chair this specific panel.

Full FIA safety panel
Presidency: Peter Wright – President of the Safety Commission

Members
Ross Brawn – Former team principal of Mercedes F1, Brawn GP, and former Ferrari technical director
Stefano Domenicali – Former team principal of Ferrari
Gerd Ennser – Chief stewards' representative
Emerson Fittipaldi – President of the FIA Drivers' Commission, F1 steward
Eduardo de Freitas – WEC race director
Roger Peart – President of the Circuits Commission, president of the ASN of Canada, F1 steward
Antonio Rigozzi Advocate – Judge at the International Court of Appeal of the FIA co-opted by the teams
Gerard Saillant – President of the FIA Institute and president of the Medical Commission
Alex Wurz – President of the GPDA, drivers' representative The Telegraph