Quite a few drivers have spoken out after pre-season testing needed to be red-flagged twice because of errant drain covers.
Thursday morning’s session was deserted after simply over two hours of operating when a drain cowl got here unfastened after Lewis Hamilton after which Charles Leclerc ran huge and over a kerb. Because of the stoppage the afternoon session was prolonged by an hour however the misplaced time, to not point out modified circumstances, affected the groups’ deliberate programmes.
Sadly on Friday it occurred once more and whereas the scenario was resolved way more speedily, the choice was taken to proceed operating with no lunchbreak, that means that these groups planning to vary drivers over the break had been now below added, pointless strain.
The incident introduced again reminiscences of final 12 months’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, when Carlos Sainz’ Ferrari was badly broken by a unfastened cowl, the Spaniard having salt rubbed in his wound by being penalised.
Nonetheless, it’s the issues of safety raised that has left drivers involved.
“With the ground-effect automobiles in all probability it is a bit bit worse, but additionally it looks like we’re driving in locations that not loads of different automobiles are going by way of opening up corners,” mentioned Max Verstappen following Friday’s incident.
“Possibly these sort of issues could be checked a bit extra,” he added. “We all know that it is a potential downside with these automobiles and if you go to sure tracks you recognize the place the drain covers are.
“So I suppose earlier than you begin driving on the weekend to double-check that every part is stable is a should for the upcoming tracks, (so) that we do not have one other scenario the place automobiles get destroyed. Particularly with a price range cap in place as nicely. It isn’t good when these items occur.”
“It is a critical situation as a result of it may possibly have large penalties,” added Charles Leclerc, whose workforce continues to be awaiting compensation for the harm accomplished to his teammate’s automotive final November. “We have now to look into it for the longer term, for it to not occur once more.
“Yesterday we had been fairly fortunate that it did not occur in a spot and in a scenario just like Vegas, in Vegas it was fairly critical for Carlos,” he added. “However I am positive everyone is on it, and dealing on discovering one of the best answer for that.”
“Hopefully the FIA are on high of it,” agreed Lewis Hamilton, “welding these items nicely prematurely earlier than us getting there.
“Happily, it wasn’t just like the unhealthy the one which Carlos hit,” he added, “however we have undoubtedly bought to be on high of it.”
