As the specialist magazine auto motor und sport reports, the FIA intends to determine the limit value mentioned in the Friday practice sessions in Montreal, which is to be bindingly observed from the third free practice session on Saturday.
Images like those of record world champion Hamilton, who climbed out of his Mercedes after the race in Baku last Sunday despite his remarkable physical condition like an old man, should be a thing of the past – as should the fear of possible long-term consequences.
Vettel: “At some point it will really explode”
“We have to find a solution,” demanded four-time champion Sebastian Vettel after the Baku race and warned: “At some point it will really explode.” AlphaTauri pilot Pierre Gasly interjected that the rulers should “not push the pilots into this corner where we have to make a decision between our health and performance.” The 26-year-old explained that the FIA ”were made aware of this” and were trying “to find a solution that would prevent us from ending up with a crutch at the age of 30”.
Hamilton’s teammate George Russell said he “didn’t even see my own pit board” in Baku. For the Briton, who is the director of the GPDA drivers’ association alongside Vettel and raises safety aspects, the problem could be solved “with a snap of the fingers”. Lo and behold: The FIA complied with the request, even if the effectiveness of the measures has yet to be seen.
Only Red Bull is not very enthusiastic
However, one side may have taken sour note of the new directive at best: Red Bull, who had won the last five races, saw every single racing team as duty until the very end to get the skipping under control.
“It would be unfair to punish those who have done their homework,” argued Red Bull team boss Christian Horner – and accused the drivers writhing in pain of calculated theatrics. As their team boss, he would “also tell them to whine as much as they can and make as big a problem as they can.”