Formula 1 Hot News

F1: Gasly penalized, but the FIA admits officials made a mistake

Posted by AR1 staff

Pierre Gasly was furious after passing a tractor on-track when returning to the pits under the red flag in the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, calling it “unacceptable.”

Onboard footage from the AlphaTauri car showed that Gasly passed a stationary tractor that was on the left-hand side of the track to recover Sainz’s car. Although the race had been red flagged, Gasly was yet to return to the pits.

“What is this tractor on track?” Gasly shouted on team radio. “I passed next to it. This is unacceptable. Remember what has happened. Can’t believe this.”

But the FIA shot back by slapping him with a penalty. The stewards have given Pierre Gasly a 20-second time penalty and two penalty points for speeding under the red flag

Carlos Sainz said he “still doesn’t know” why we “keep risking” having a tractor out on track, especially considering the race was red-flagged shortly after.

“I don’t know if people understand, but even behind the safety car, we are going at 100-150 kph, and still at those speeds, we don’t see nothing, even behind the safety car.

Safety Car is deployed in heavy rain during 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, Sunday – Jiri Krenek photo

“If one driver decides to get a bit out of the racing line or has a small aquaplaning or has to change a switch on the steering wheel and gets a bit out of line, and hits a tractor, then it’s over, no?

“I still don’t know why in these conditions we keep risking having a tractor on-track, because it’s just worthless. If you’re going to red flag it anyway, why risk it?”

It comes eight years after Jules Bianchi suffered severe head injuries when he collided with a recovery vehicle in heavy rain at Suzuka. Bianchi died as a result of the injuries nine months later.

After the race the FIA released the following statement admitting a serious error was made by Race Officials.

While it is normal practice to recover cars under Safety Car and Red Flag conditions, due to the particular circumstances and also taking into account feedback from of a number of drivers, the FIA has launched a thorough review of the events involving the deployment of recovery vehicles during the Japanese Grand Prix. This is part of the common practice of analysis of all race incidents to ensure continual improvements of processes and procedures.

 

The incident brought back memories of Jules Bianchi’s crash at the same circuit back in 2014, the Frenchman sliding off the track in the rain and crashing into a recovery vehicle that was collecting Romain Grosjean’s stricken car.

Bianchi died as a result of his injuries.

His father Philippe, watching Sunday’s race, was appalled.

He tweeted: “No respect for the life of the driver. No respect for Jules’ memory. Incredible.”

Former FIA Race Director Michael Masi must be laughing his ass off after being forced out from the role by Toto Wolff’s FIA lackey.