The FIA has confirmed the topic of security at race events will be discussed in the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in the wake of a number of incidents impacting team personnel during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
Issues with crime around the race at Interlagos in Sao Paulo are not new but this year received extra attention after the Mercedes team were held at gunpoint leaving the circuit on Friday in an armed robbery.
That was proceeded by additional police and measures put in place to try and fend off further attacks but were unsuccessful as Williams, Sauber, the FIA and Pirelli were all caught up in attempted muggings over the rest of the weekend.
It would lead to the cancellation of a planned two-day tyre test between McLaren and Pirelli at Interlagos with third driver Lando Norris revealing he merely “had a bath” between arriving and leaving the country.
“In the continued spirit of positive collaboration with Formula 1, the Council will discuss the ways in which a more consistent and effective security procedure can be applied at all events of the FIA Formula One World Championship,” a statement read on Wednesday.
“The findings will also be shared with other FIA championship organisers to maximise the positive impact this can have across all motorsport, security is a cooperative effort and the FIA will seek to work closely with Formula 1 and all its stakeholders to maintain a safe environment for everyone working at or visiting Formula 1 events.”
Since the race, there has been a debate over whether the Brazil round should be dropped if security can’t be guaranteed but Liberty Media has claimed that will not happen for now as they too consider action to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Sao Paulo has a contract to host the Brazilian Grand Prix until 2020.
