Following the crane incident at the Suzuka Formula 1 Grand Prix, drivers are unanimous that such vehicles should not be allowed onto the track, particularly in wet conditions and poor visibility. They want to make sure this never happens again and as a drivers’ association they want to put pressure on GPDA.
The crane in question had been sent onto the track right after Carlos Sainz’s accident on the first lap and was on the racing line when the field passed under the safety car on the next lap before the red flag was waved.
The fact that the crane was there was unanimously described by the drivers as “unacceptable”. GPDA directors George Russell and Sebastian Vettel were among those who noted that such incidents have been a regular topic of conversation in recent driver briefings and GPDA meetings.
During the red flag disruption at Suzuka, Russell attempted to contact FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem by phone before the restart was announced and he was forced to return to the pits.
Russell: Only in Singapore there was a similar incident
After the checkered flag, but before the FIA officially confirmed that they would initiate a review, it was not only the two GPDA directors who made their views clear.
“We talked about it a bit in the drivers’ briefing this week,” reveals Russell. “In Singapore, there was a crane on the track when Tsunoda crashed under the safety car and that was at a time when people were switching to slicks.”
“We have expressed our opinion that we do not want to experience something like this,” says the Brit. “That was only a week ago. To be at this point again is obviously quite disappointing given the circumstances and history. We will of course all be speaking to the FIA.”
“In our opinion, the matter is pretty clear. No cranes on the line. And if you need a crane on the line, the red flag has to come.”
When asked if that should also apply in dry conditions, Russell says: “I don’t know. Certainly in wet conditions – there 100 per cent. But I don’t see any reason why we should ever have a crane on the line. And if it does, then maybe we need a speed limit.”
“But in my opinion it’s not worth the risk,” adds the Mercedes driver. “As we’ve said before, these cars are sometimes more difficult to control in safety car conditions than when we’re going fast, so we’re talking about safety and going slow for safety.”
Bad memories of Jules Bianchi’s accident in 2014
Like Russell, Valtteri Bottas also points to recent discussions on the subject. “The last time we talked about having people on the line or a crane or something like that was in Singapore,” confirms the Finn.
“We were surprised at how fast some marshals were at Tsunoda. There was no virtual safety car and there were people on the track. It was similar here.”
“I’m sure that this will be a point of discussion at the next drivers’ meeting,” says Bottas. “It was definitely not supposed to happen. And I think we were lucky today that nothing worse happened to anyone.”
Like many others, Vettel cited the example of Jules Bianchi’s 2014 accident. “It’s just not acceptable,” he said of Sunday’s incident.
“We talked in the drivers’ briefing that the service car should never be on the road in these conditions. Not even when there is a safety car. I think we just have to understand that today was one of those weird days, on where something could have gone wrong,” said Vettel.
“And then someone could pay the price. A marshal who is here voluntarily to help and is doing a great job, or a driver in the car. Even the smallest injuries are unnecessary. But we had a very traumatic scene eight years ago , and which comes much too close here.”
Fernando Alonso also recalled Bianchi: “After 2014, we all agree that something like this must never happen again and that happened today, so we have to work together to make sure this is the last, last, last time.”
“Of course that’s unacceptable,” he continues, but at the same time assures the FIA of his support. “We need to understand why the crane was there, who made the decision, who made the call, whether they misunderstood something and the crane was out without the race director’s permission.”
“So until we have a full explanation, and we will ask for a full explanation, we cannot comment too much,” Alonso concludes.
Norris: No driver should have to do that
Lando Norris was still commenting on the incident during the red flag interruption via social media and wrote: “How could this happen?” He also thinks that the sport hasn’t learned enough from the Bianchi crash.
“I’m sure it reminded everyone of what happened a few years ago and how we had to lose a life so we could learn that things like that weren’t supposed to happen. And it kind of happened again,” Norris muses crane incident.
“I don’t know who was okay with that and allowing the truck to go out on track like that, especially at a spot where Carlos was hydroplaning. To not only put themselves out on track like that, but us drivers too Putting it in danger, literally risking our lives, is unacceptable.”
“I shouldn’t have to do that, no other driver should have to do that. It’s disappointing,” says Norris. “But I’m sure the problem will be solved because it’s very simple – you just shouldn’t do it. Don’t drive a crane onto the track when there are cars on the road.”