McLaren boss Zak Brown has expressed his frustration at a number of scandals overshadowing the beginning of the Method One season.
It comes a day after an ethics committee for F1’s governing physique, FIA, cleared its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of “any wrongdoing” over allegations of interference.
Ben Sulayem was accused by a whistleblower of trying to unduly affect F1 processes on two separate events.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on Thursday slammed Ben Sulayem, saying he had by no means supported the FIA president.
Brown believed the secrecy surrounding the FIA wanted to cease.
“We’re residing in 2024, not 1984, which suggests whole transparency,” he stated on Friday.
“I believe we have to make it possible for issues are carried out in a clear, a really impartial method. I believe everybody ought to welcome transparency.”
It’s not the one scenario FIA are coping with. Issues escalated additional this week when Susie Wolff, the pinnacle of all-female racing collection F1 Academy, filed a prison criticism in opposition to the FIA.
Brown answered a barrage of questions concerning the numerous scandals engulfing F1 forward of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
“Everybody would love these numerous subjects to [be resolved to] allow us to return to motor racing, however I believe till all of the unanswered questions are answered, folks will proceed to ask questions,” Brown stated.
“I don’t assume it’s an amazing scenario that we’re in that we’re three races into the calendar and we’re nonetheless speaking about these points.
“It’s vital that the FIA, as our governing physique tackle this swiftly, transparently they usually come to the precise conclusions, no matter these could also be.”
Brown additionally hailed Oscar Piastri’s evolution 12 months on from the home-town hero’s Australian Grand Prix debut.
The Melbourne-born driver is hoping to turn out to be the primary Australian since F1 began racing at Albert Park to safe a podium end.
Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris went quickest within the first apply of the weekend on Friday, pipping three-time world champion Max Verstappen in a constructive signal for McLaren’s bid to match it with powerhouses Pink Bull and Ferrari.
Piastri briefly led P1 early, however ended up Tenth-quickest, one spot forward of fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo in his first drive in Melbourne since 2022.
Brown was impressed by how shortly Piastri had adjusted to life as a Method One driver.
“He’s already a mature younger man, however you’ll be able to positively see a yr on he’s acquired a better degree of confidence as a result of he is aware of what to anticipate, and I believe that may simply drive even higher performances with the helmet on,” he stated.
Ten minutes had been misplaced in the course of the first one-hour apply session, with Alex Albon dropping management of his Williams and slamming right into a wall.
The Thai driver escaped from the crash with out harm, however a tyre went flying from his car, and there seemed to be intensive injury to the gearbox.
Albert Park has been a graveyard for Australian drivers, with Mark Webber – Piastri’s mentor – and Ricciardo having by no means positioned higher than fourth on the circuit throughout their lengthy careers.
Ricciardo famously completed the 2014 race second, however he was stripped of the rostrum after being disqualified.