The FIA clarify position on physios carrying pitboards - Several controversies raise their heads before the season starts
Published by Christine
The 2013 season is just moments away, and with it comes the first of no doubt several controversies of the year. Rather than a dodgy device on a car, the FIA have had to clarify their views on physios who take extra duties rather than just looking after the drivers. Across the teams, roles varied wildly, and with the regulations stipulating there can only be 60 operational staff per team able to work on the car, this has raised some question marks.
FIA Race Director, Charlie Whiting, has said: “Some physios would literally only look after the driver, pat him on the head when he wanted it, feed him, give him a drink and hold his umbrella... But some of them operated a pit board, or fitted tyre blankets. I felt the best interpretation was that if a physio was just doing what everyone would think a physio should be doing, they should not be counted in the 60. Some teams disagree, but we’ve made our position clear.”
He added that at least two of the teams have had to tweak the way they structure their crew.
