In the round-up: Lewis Hamilton questions the sustainability merits of hosting the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Azerbaijan
In brief
Hamilton questions FIA’s sustainability merits
Lewis Hamilton feels the FIA would demonstrate greater commitment to sustainability by holding their annual Prize Giving Gala in Paris.
Last night’s event was held in Baku in Azerbaijan for the first time, with the body confirming that next year’s ceremony will be held in Rwanda in Africa. Hamilton believes that hosting the event away from the FIA’s headquarters in Paris goes against the organisation’s supposed push for sustainability.
“Whilst I really like Baku – it’s really a beautiful place – I have questions in my mind whether the FIA is really actually thinking about sustainability,” Hamilton said. “Because so many people flew out here, when the FIA is actually in Paris and it would have just been easier to have it there.
“But it’s a beautiful arena. It’s a night that we all get to come together and celebrate all the amazing achievements from all the great people that are working within the sport and all the amazing drivers that I wouldn’t get to see during the year as well.”
IndyCar hybrid delay the ‘right move’ – Rahal
IndyCar driver Graham Rahal believes the series is right to delay the introduction of its hybrid power units until after the Indianapolis 500.
The new 2.2L V6 hybrid turbo power units were supposed to debut at the beginning of the 2024 season at St. Petersburg. However, IndyCar confirmed this week that the power units would come into the series at an unspecified race following the Indy 500 in May.
In a post on social media, Rahal Letterman Lanigan driver Rahal described the call to delay the hybrid engines as “absolutely the right move.”
“While a hard decision, it’s the right one by IndyCar and the management team,” he said. “Teams like RLL, who haven’t been able to test the power units / car, would’ve been at a major competitive disadvantage, and any failures or delays would’ve been costly.”
Hartley injures foot
World Endurance Championship winning driver Brendon Hartley missed receiving his championship trophy with team mates Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa at the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Baku as he was recovering from injury at home in Monaco.
“I had a bit of an accident last week and broke a bone on my foot, so I’m currently doing my best to recover as quick as possible,” he said. “But it’s going…
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