FIA reach ‘very positive’ resolution over Halo legal proceedings
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc close up with Halo, eyes focused. Baku June 2022
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem revealed it has resolved its legal battle over the Halo, in a way that “safeguards” the future of the governing body.
Ben Sulayem recently spoke about how he had taken over the presidency with a $20million deficit hanging over the FIA, as well as a court case ongoing in the United States regarding the Halo – brought about by its inventor, Jens Nygaard, over an alleged patent infringement.
But addressing delegates at the FIA general assembly in Bologna, Ben Sulayem confirmed the case has now been resolved.
“We had to get the FIA back on track,” he said in his speech. “One of my first actions as president was to be transparent about the legal challenges we faced.
“So, I am very happy to tell you that the Halo litigation has been resolved in a very positive way, safeguarding the future of the FIA, and I thank the legal team for all their hard work.
“But this transparency had to go further. That is why we commissioned independent audits of our finances and governance which have shaped our plans for the future.
“That means balancing the books and reforming the FIA to deliver more for its members, and there is no better example of our drive to reform than the appointment of our first ever CEO.
“I must thank Carmelo Sanz de Barros, president of the FIA Senate for all his hard work. He has led this reform, helping to secure the future of the FIA.”
The general assembly was followed by the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Bologna, with the World Champions from each of its series picking up their trophies from the world of motorsport, including Max Verstappen taking home the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship trophy for a second consecutive year.
The Halo has been widely lauded for improving driver safety since its introduction in 2018, with the carbon fibre design circling around the drivers’ cockpits and providing cover for loose large objects, as well as head protection for if a car is flipped upside down, as was the case for Zhou Guanyu on the first lap at this year’s British Grand Prix.
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