FIA insist Spa-Francorchamps is safe after Aitken GT crash

FIA race director Michael Masi is adamant Spa-Francorchamps is fit for holding F1 races after another serious incident at the home of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Williams reserve driver Jack Aitken suffered a broken collarbone and a fractured vertebra in the four-car crash at Eau Rouge and Radillon during last weekend's 24 Hours of Spa.

Aitken's Lamborghini collided with the tyre barrier and ricocheted back onto the circuit ahead of the following pack, resulting in a pile-up that echoed that of the F2 incident in 2019 that cost Anthoine Hubert his life.

Alfa Romeo reserve driver Callum Ilott, who was involved in both this year's 24 Hours of Spa and the 2019 Belgian F2 race, wrote on Twitter: "There needs to be a change at this corner and I’m very surprised nothing has changed yet. Enough is enough.

"If I’m wrong for chasing for better safety after seeing 4 of my friends involved in massive accidents then I may as well not be human.

"I’ve come back to Spa after 2019 and I will come back again after this. But that doesn't mean if something isn’t good enough it shouldn’t be fixed"

Responding to Ilott's comments, Masi said: "There have been some works that have been undertaken at Spa in a number of areas but the Spa circuit holds a current grade one [licence].

"There are a number of changes and improvements that are made year on year but I think the way that it is, it is safe from an FIA perspective.

"None of us likes to see big incidents. I am just glad the drivers are relatively okay.

"They are good and healthy which is the important part. They have a recovery ahead of them but that is the overall perspective."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Spanish Grand Prix organisers release statement over concerns new F1 track won't be ready

• 33 minutes ago

EXCLUSIVE: One step from the big time, this is the life of an F1 reserve driver

• 1 hour ago

F1 ANALYSIS: Teams are now in a race to the bottom after new rule shambles

• 2 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton back in top spot as perfect F1 race win rewarded

• 3 hours ago

Aston Martin ‘not F1 standard’ claims Guenther Steiner in stinging assessment

• Today 10:57

Red Bull split in bid to block Max Verstappen F1 exit clause

• Today 09:57