Horner demands "full, full" investigation after “unimaginable” incident
Horner demands "full, full" investigation after “unimaginable” incident
Christian Horner believes F1 “got lucky” to escape a serious incident when a recovery vehicle was sent out on track during a safety car period in heavy rain during Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The Red Bull team principal has called for a “full, full” investigation from the FIA into an incident he described as “unimaginable”.
The situation occurred on the second lap of the race, which was stopped soon after, when the recovery vehicle was sent out to deal with the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz who had crashed into the barriers and rebounded back on track.
“That should never ever happen," said Horner. "There needs to be an investigation as to why there was a recovery vehicle on the circuit. In those horrendous conditions, where visibility is zero, it is extremely dangerous.
“The virtual safety car was brought in for a reason following that awful accident all those years ago. There just needs to be a full, full investigation as to why that vehicle was on track because it obviously shouldn’t have been.
“Without all the facts it’s very hard to comment on why that vehicle was on track, what the process is that enables a vehicle to head onto the circuit.
"Allow the FIA to do the full due diligence into it because that is something that was decided several years ago that that’s totally unacceptable.”
Horner calls for evaluation to avoid rain race delays
The race was stopped for more than an hour and re-commenced with a rolling start, giving fans some action in what was ultimately a shortened race.
Horner, though, believes more could be done to avoid such delays.
He added: “Visibility was horrendous and even Max at the front was struggling to see, so how anyone behind could see anything at all… It’s a difficult one and I think it is something we need to look at for future years.
“The asphalts that are used, the drainage, because it’s the standing water that causes all the issues. The rivers across the circuit, you get this aquaplaning where the car is simply lifted up and the driver has no control of that at all.
“The problem with the full wet tyre is that it's sort of a survival tyre, but there’s no performance in it. So, it’s pushing the teams and drivers as quickly as they can to get onto the inter.
“But then it's’ a matter of being able to survive those rivers, those aquaplaning moments. It’s a tricky one, but the distance between the performance of the extreme tyre and the inter is too great.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 legend's ICONIC car put up for sale in UK
- 28 minutes ago
Incredible statistic puts Verstappen AHEAD of Hamilton record
- 1 hour ago
Fierce rival calls Hamilton F1's GOAT in surprise admission
- 2 hours ago
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
- 3 hours ago
- 1
F1 legend issues DAMNING verdict on proposed rule change
- Today 10:57
Red Bull chief admits interest in poaching TWO rival stars
- Today 09:57
Related news
NIGHTMARE Japanese GP may bite F1 team later this season
EMBARRASSING Hamilton crash caught on camera at Suzuka
‘Ricciardo is so finished’ - Pressure mounts on RB star after BIG Japanese GP crash
FIA reveal OFFICIAL verdict on Ricciardo Japanese GP crash
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