British GP life-threatening crashes prompt calls for FIA safety talks
British GP life-threatening crashes prompt calls for FIA safety talks
Chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association Alex Wurz has suggested he has launched talks with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over safety concerns prompted by two horror crashes at the British Grand Prix weekend.
Both Zhou Guanyu and F2 driver Roy Nissany had their lives saved by the Halo safety device, but safety failings in both incidents have raised concerns.
For Zhou, the collapse of his Alfa Romeo's roll hoop left the Chinese rookie skating along the track along his Halo.
Referring to another case of a roll hoop failure on social media, a crash in which the former Williams, McLaren and Benetton driver was a part of, Wurz said: "Last time (as far as I remember) an F1 roll hub collapsing was with Pedro Diniz, Nurburgring 99 (jumping over me).
"This led to stricter crash tests, requested by GPDA, swiftly executed/ implemented by the FIA.
"Dear Mister President please check your inbox, we got (more) work to do."
Last time (as far as i remember) an @F1 roll hub collapsing was with Pedro Diniz, Nurburgring 99 (jumping over me š) This led to stricter crash tests, requested by GPDA, swiftly executed/ implemented by @FIA . Dear Mister President pls check your inbox, we got (more) work to do pic.twitter.com/IsxIg7D209
— alex wurz (@alex_wurz) July 5, 2022
Wurz attacks sausage kerbs
Nissany's crash would have certainly been fatal had Halo not been employed by the FIA in 2018.
The Israeli driver squeezed Red Bull junior Dennis Hauger onto the grass on the run-up to Vale and with the Norweigian suffering from damage and a loss of control, his Prema launched over the inside sausage kerb and into Nissany's Halo at head height.
Recent incidents involving sausage kerbs have seen Max Verstappen launch onto the Halo of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes in Italy last year, as well as former F3 driver Alex Peroni suffering back fractures from a frightening crash at Monza in 2019.
Using a picture of Rubens Barrichello's near-fatal incident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix to back his concerns, another social media post from Wurz read: "A key moment why our industry went away from high/steep kerbs.
"After, a generalisation process delivered "flat kerbs", after we all shouted about track limits. After we brought sausage Kerbs and guess what: we fly again. we can do better!
"[I] struggle to hold back on speaking out publicly about the matter of sausage kerbs, why we (still) have them & why nothing seems to be done.
"Fact: they are, and have always been an ill-born concept. How many more shunts, how much more injuries [do] we have to witness?
"This goes for Sausage kerbs at apex, as well as Baguette/Banana kerbs on exits."
A key moment why our industry went away from high/steep kerbs. After: a generalisation process delivered "flat kerbs" (good but not thought thru at the time). After we all shouted about tracklimits. After we brought sausage Kerbs and guess what: we fly again. we can do betterā pic.twitter.com/Fv36nu0cAg
— alex wurz (@alex_wurz) July 4, 2022
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: British star DOMINATES in stunning Miami display as Ricciardo suffers MAJOR Miami setback
- 5 minutes ago
British star dominates in stunning Miami race weekend
- 17 minutes ago
F1 2024 Miami Grand Prix starting grid with penalties applied
- 1 hour ago
Former F1 star backs KEY Norris decision
- 2 hours ago
Leclerc hits out at CONTROVERSIAL Ferrari livery
- 2 hours ago
Verstappen's Red Bull and rival F1 cars risk DAMAGE in bizarre parc ferme incident
- 3 hours ago
F1 Race Calendar 2024
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
-
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
Max Verstappen
- GP USA 3 - 5 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
- GP CANADA 7 - 9 Jun
- GP SPAIN 21 - 23 Jun
- GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun
Related news
F1 team responds after 'FIA request on Imola driver swap' claims
FIA announce Mercedes singled out for F1 inspection ahead of Miami Grand Prix
FIA boss HITS OUT at 'court of public opinion' after interference allegations
FIA announce crucial top three UPDATE in China after investigating F1 star
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio PĆ©rez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico HĆ¼lkenberg
- 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 EspaƱa 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 PrĆŖmio de SĆ£o 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