07/06/2018
NEWS STORY
Meeting in Manilla, the World Motor Sport Council this morning confirmed the results of the recent e-votes regarding the 2019 F1 Sporting and Technical Regulations. These include aerodynamic changes to the front wing, brake ducts, and rear wing and are aimed at improving overtaking.
The WMSC also approved changes to the 2018 F1 Sporting Regulations to ensure the cars and drivers are on the starting grid for ten minutes longer before the national anthem ceremony, thereby providing better access to the drivers for the media.
These changes will be in effect from the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.
The move follows the decision introduced at the start of the year to push race start times back to ten minutes past the hour in a bid to give broadcasters more lead in time before the start of races.
With the official F1 website, declaring that the added ten minutes means "a longer 'grid walk' period for the media, giving them better access to the drivers and more time for interviews as they prepare to climb into their cockpits and get ready to do battle against their rivals", one has to wonder how the drivers themselves feel about this further intrusion at what is surely the most intense period of the weekend.
One can be almost certain that the Grand Prix Drivers Association was not asked for its opinion.