The FIA released further details from the World Motor Sport Council meet in Italy after the release of F1 Sprint events for 2023 season.

Having revealed the F1 Sprint races for the 2023 season, the FIA shared clarification on the Financial Regulations for both next year and 2024 with regards to those events. It noted about increase of the forfeit allowance for each of the sprint session.

It will be $300k from 2023 which is up from the current $150k. They have also eliminated subsequent adjustment for accident damage by increasing the forfeit amount. Moving on to the technical side, a significant increase in required strength of Roll Hoops was cleared.

After the incident of Zhou Guanyu at Silverstone, the FIA team were working on strengthening of the roll hoops with the approval of significant increase to come in for 2024. The load tests will be applied more horizontally for better fixing to chassis.

Finally on the sporting side, the FIA is further relaxing the COVID-19 procedures for 2023. People who are not fit to attend – those having COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed COVID-19 infection – will not be allowed in ‘high density’ areas.

Further on, there is no requirement for attendees to be vaccinated to enter high density areas. Also, the FIA will not provide any on-site testing facilities but will inform stakeholders or nearby facilities local to the areas.

Here’s the note from FIA:

A significant increase in the required strength of Roll Hoops was approved for 2024 as part of the continual commitment to improving safety standards in the sport. These updates mean that test loads are applied more horizontally to require better fixing of the roll hoop to the chassis structure.

The World Council also approved several updates and clarifications to the 2023 and 2024 Financial Regulations, including an increase of the forfeit allowance amount for each Sprint session from $150k to $300k from 2023 onwards, and the elimination of any subsequent adjustment for accident damage sustained during the Sprint sessions.

The Council Members received an update regarding the ongoing projects discussed at the most recent Formula 1 Commission meeting. The FIA continues to evolve the COVID-19 protocol in line with the changes in the status of the global pandemic.  Accordingly, it is proposed to relax the COVID-19 protocol for Formula 1 2023 season.

In summary, the key changes to the protocol are: Attendees that are not ‘fit to attend’ (i.e. those having COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed COVID-19 infection) will not be authorized to enter ‘high density’ areas. No requirement for attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter high-density areas. The FIA will no longer organize on-site testing facilities but will inform stakeholders about test facilities available locally to venues. 

Here’s the F1 start times for 2023:

Here’s the F1 2023 calendar without China – no replacement has been officially noted yet:

Here’s six venues for F1 Sprint races

Here’s F1 confirming cancelling China

Here’s Jenson Button on Las Vegas GP

Here’s Ross Brawn on key changes in F1 2022

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