Eight drivers to miss Cannes safety talks

Eight drivers are to miss a planned meeting next month with Max Mosley, president of world governing body the FIA.

Eight drivers are to miss a planned meeting next month with Max Mosley, president of world governing body the FIA.

Mosley invited all the Formula One drivers to the summit on August 1 in Cannes, with the subject of safety issues in testing high on the agenda.

Safety has become a hot topic in Formula One since fears over the tyres supplied by Michelin forced seven teams to pull out of the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, causing a furore.

That, in turn, has led to the relationship between Mosley and the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association [GPDA] becoming strained in recent weeks, resulting in a planned meeting at Silverstone being cancelled.

Mosley has since rescheduled for the day after the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the first day of Formula One’s three-week summer break, which has understandably caused problems.

Mosley had also threatened to withdraw the invitation if less than half of the drivers chose to attend, but a dozen are to show up.

“Twelve drivers have confirmed they will attend,” confirmed an FIA spokesman.

“Although the level of interest is somewhat disappointing, the FIA feels the meeting should take place regardless.

“Those drivers who are prepared to attend the meeting, and wish to express their views on safety, should have the opportunity to be heard.”

Two of the eight ‘no-shows’ are McLaren duo Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, with both starting their holiday.

Montoya said: “I support the objective totally and I support the concept of a meeting, but I had already planned to go on holiday in Colombia, so I cannot go.”

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