Verstappen wants FIA to publish annual report into state of F1 after Abu Dhabi controversy

Max Verstappen believes that motorsport governing body the FIA should conduct annual investigations into the state of Formula 1 and publish its results publicly.

The FIA announced a raft of changes to its race control setup in February, with Michael Masi — the race director whose unprecedented interpretation of the safety car rules rendered race leader Hamilton a sitting duck at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last December and essentially gifted the title to Verstappen — removed from his role and replaced by an overhauled system.

Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich were drafted into F1 from their respective roles as race director for the World Endurance Championship and DTM series and now occupy the position on an alternating basis, while a new VAR-style virtual race control hub is being created to support them. F1 stalwart Herbie Blash has also returned to assist both men.

The changes were brought in as part of the FIA’s investigation into the race, which it admitted had ‘tarnished the reputation’ of F1. The FIA promised a ‘detailed analysis’ of the running of the race at Yas Marina in part to dissuade Mercedes from taking a legal appeal to the court of Arbitration for Sport.

The findings of that investigation were made public last month, after Verstappen had said ‘I don’t think we need a full report.’ Now though, the Dutchman has changed his mind and says a transparent annual report is the way for Formula 1 to make sure it improves year-on-year.

‘I think it’s good [that the FIA] showed it to the world, what they had been investigating,’ Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. ‘For me, this kind of investigation should happen every single year. I think, as an organisation or as a team, you always want to try and improve