FIA controversies and its tensions with Formula 1 will take a back seat when the racing action begins in March, believes Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur.
During the off-season, particularly in the last month or so, the sport's governing body has been making headlines for the wrong reasons. It began last last year, when it was revealed that the rules would be changed to ban drivers from protesting or making political points without receiving prior permission.
Critics have slammed that move, claiming it is an attempt to silence drivers. House of Lords peer Lord Scriven and human rights group the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy both accused the FIA of "targeting" Lewis Hamilton – one of the drivers who has most regularly used his platform to highlight social injustice.
