"Unacceptable" to stop and start behind safety car - Russell
"Unacceptable" to stop and start behind safety car - Russell
Williams driver George Russell has slated as "unacceptable" the stop-start chaos behind the safety car that played a part in the Tuscan Grand Prix pile-up on Sunday.
Russell has been left unhappy by what unfolded at Mugello that resulted in the crash that accounted for team-mate Nicholas Latifi, along with McLaren's Carlos Sainz, Antonio Giovinazzi in his Alfa Romeo and Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.
Following an investigation by the stewards, they concluded "that the root cause of this incident was the inconsistent application of throttle and brake, from the final corner along the pit straight" by a dozen drivers - that included Russell.
Despite the assertion by the stewards, Russell said: "This stopping and starting, it’s unacceptable."
Like Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Russell also blamed the late switch off of the lights on top of the safety car.
"It [the crash] could’ve been avoided if the safety car had turned its lights off earlier," added Russell.
"I don’t know why but this year the safety car has been turning its light off so late, which forces the lead driver to delay his restart because he can’t get a run around the last corner. And that’s the whole issue.
"It was sort of inevitable. I saw people going quicker around the last corner, then slow down, accelerate and slow down again. I was very lucky to miss the incident."
Russell, who finished just outside the points in 11th, further explained how he escaped the carnage that unfolded just behind him.
"As soon as everyone braked, I looked in my mirrors," added Russell. "I saw a little bit of chaos and I just put my foot down again to avoid it.
"It was almost like when you pull up to a traffic jam on the motorway, sort of looking in your mirrors to see if the car behind hasn’t noticed and be ready to put your foot down and avoid if he’s going to crash into the back of you.
"So it’s carnage and it can be resolved."
Before you go...
'The Bend' a fall-back option for F1 for 2021 Australian Grand Prix?
Alfa Romeo "dug deep" after suffering "big blows" at Mugello
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 31 minutes ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 1 hour ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 2 hours ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 3 hours ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
F1 champion claims team may WRITE OFF Chinese GP sprint race
Schumacher fires scary message at F1 team boss as worst fears CONFIRMED
FIA slammed for 'ridiculous' Russell investigation
F1 team hire former Man Utd and Chelsea supremo
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860