George Russell has raised the prospect of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix being cancelled amid poor climate.
Heavy rain fell over the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit on Thursday, with the grizzly climate anticipated to proceed all through the weekend.
Although the forecast is healthier for Sunday’s Grand Prix, the climate is notoriously tough to foretell within the Ardennes and there’s a worry within the paddock that the weekend’s operating – which encompasses a dash race on Saturday – might be closely disrupted.
Indeed, it’s understood Formula One are already trying into potential adjustments to the timetable.
The FIA’s resolution to run within the moist circumstances will likely be heightened following the dying of 18-year-old Dilano Van ‘t Hoff at Spa-Francorchamps earlier this month.
The Dutch teenager was killed after a crash in a rain-hit Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) race on July 1.
“Obviously to have a race cancelled is not perfect for anybody, but we don’t wish to see one other large incident that now we have simply seen,” mentioned Russell, 25, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
“The conditions are safe and suitable enough to drive for one Formula 1 car. But when you have got 20 cars on track at once, anybody from third position backwards literally cannot see 20, 30, 40 metres ahead of them.
“We have no visibility whatsoever. To give it some perspective, it is like driving down the motorway in pouring rain, and turning your windscreen wipers off. That is how it feels in the cockpit.
Mercedes’ George Russell is director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association
(PA Wire)
“It was only a matter of time before the incident in the FRECA race happened. Drivers do not go flat out on the straight because they cannot see, someone gets rear-ended, and then there is a car in the middle of the track.
“I also fear a little bit for the junior categories. I truly think Formula 3 should not have 30 cars out there at one time at any point, even in dry conditions. I feel like it is a matter of time before a big incident happens there, too.”
In 2021, the race right here was deserted after simply two laps behind the protection automobile due to torrential rain, and Mercedes’ Russell continued: “It was the correct decision to call off the race.
“The FIA has to be bold with its decisions when it comes to safety and when it comes to visibility.
Spa-Francorchamps hosts the third F1 sprint weekend of the season
(Getty Images)
“We want to race, everybody wants to race, but when you go down that straight at over 200mph and you can’t see in front of you, there will be huge incidents, so they have got a big responsibility.”
Van ‘t Hoff died following a multiple car pile-up on the exit of the notorious Eau Rouge corner and leading into the Kemmel Straight.
In the spray, Van ‘t Hoff was tagged from behind, rebounding off the wall, and into the middle of the circuit where he was hit at high speed by another driver.
Frenchman Anthoine Hubert was killed four years ago in an F2 race following a similar incident, albeit in the dry, at a circuit which has now claimed 49 lives.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said: “It is not something I ever think of. As a driver, you can’t let it enter your thoughts, however you need to belief in what the FIA do.
“We wouldn’t be right here in the event that they didn’t suppose it might be protected. They have carried out such unbelievable work over the previous few a long time and I belief them to make the proper selections shifting forwards.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk
