[FIAth3] Streiff has apologized to FIA President

[FIAth3] Streiff has apologized to FIA President Jan 25, 2015 13:03:25 GMT -6

Quote

Post by n7thGear™ on Jan 25, 2015 13:03:25 GMT -6

Streiff has apologized to FIA president Jean Todt

Former Formula One driver Philippe Streiff has apologized to FIA president Jean Todt and medical head Gerard Saillant for comments he made about the investigation into Jules Bianchi's Japanese Grand Prix accident.
Todt and Saillant had threatened legal action on Thursday for defamation.

"I let myself get carried away in front of the camera," Streiff said in a statement issued through the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in which he retracted the 'unfounded' accusations.

"The interview took a long time, too long, and I am aware that I made insulting and defamatory comments about Jean Todt, Gerard Saillant and the FIA which I sincerely regret.

"I ask Jean Todt and Gerard Saillant, who are well aware of my health problems, to excuse me," he added. "I regret having said things about them that are totally out of line with the consideration they both deserve."

Streiff has been wheelchair-bound since a 1989 Formula One testing accident in Brazil.

Bianchi, managed by Todt's son Nicolas, suffered severe brain injuries when his Marussia skidded into a recovery tractor in fading light in the October race at a wet Suzuka circuit.

He is now in hospital in the south of France.

Todt Lunches Legal Action Against Former F1 Driver over Bianchi Comments

FIA President Jean Todt, along with FIA Medical Commission President Gérard Saillant are to take legal action against former F1 driver Philippe Streiff following comments made by the ex-driver in an interview with a French web TV station concerning the FIA’s response to the Jules Bianchi crash in Suzuka last year and in particular the findings of the 10-man panel set up to look into the accident.

An FIA press release read: “The FIA, its President Jean Todt, as well as Gérard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, are dismayed to learn of the remarks made about them by Philippe Streiff in his recent comments on the state of Jules Bianchi’s health.

“These remarks having been published by certain media, the FIA, Jean Todt and Gérard Saillant categorically state that Philippe Streiff’s insulting and defamatory comments are utterly unfounded and demonstrate malicious intent.

“In view of the seriousness of this deliberate attack on their reputations, they have had to ask their lawyers to lodge a complaint for public defamation and insult so that the circulation of Philippe Streiff’s statements is stopped immediately and sanctioned in an appropriate manner.

They find it regrettable that this incident only serves to add to the suffering of Jules Bianchi’s family, for whom they would like to reiterate their support.”

Fifty-nine-year-old Streiff started 53 grands prix in a Formula One career that stretched from 1984 to 1988. In 1989 he was involved in a pre-season testing accident that left him severely paralysed. The French driver triggered more controversy last year over comments made about the health of Michael Schumacher, which prompted a denial from the
seven-times champion’s management.

Following Bianchi Crash Recommendations, FIA Confirms Earlier Start Times for Five GP'S

The FIA has confirmed that five races on this year’s Formula One calendar will have earlier start times following safety recommendations regarding event starts in the wake of Jules Bianchi’s accident in Suzuka last year.

In December, the 10-man panel appointed by the FIA to look into the causes of the accident recommended that “a regulation or guideline be established such that the start time of an event shall not be less than four hours before either sunset or dusk, except in the case of night races”. It also recommended that the F1 Calendar be “reviewed in order to avoid, where possible, races taking place during local rainy seasons”.

The new 2015 start times appear to reflect concerns about failing light and rain, with the Australian Grand Prix now moved back from the 5pm local time start it has held in recent years to a 4pm local start (0500 GMT), while the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, which is subject to frequent, torrential late-afternoon rain showers will now start at 3pm local time (0700 GMT), back from the 4pm start it has had in past seasons.

Three other races move back an hour. China’s race gets a 2pm start (0600 GMT), while the Japanese Grand Prix, in which some drivers complained of poor light on the day of Bianchi’s accident, moves back from it’s usual 3pm start to 2pm (0500 GMT). The Russian Grand Prix will also start at 2pm.

Mexico, meanwhile, has been given a 1pm local start time, with the 1900hrs GMT start putting it in a prime time TV slot in Europe.

title

Post by n7thGear™ on Jan 25, 2015 13:03:25 GMT -6

HEADLINES

RALLY

FIA WTCC

INDYCAR UPDATES

Twitter FIA

DTM