The FIA launches an investigation into the presence of the tractor on the track during the Japanese Grand Prix
Following the criticism from the drivers, after the intervention of a tractor on the Suzuka track while the single-seaters were still racing, the FIA has decided to launch a thorough investigation.
We narrowly avoided a terrible accident this Sunday during the Japanese Grand Prix. While Pierre Gasly was rejoining the track after going through the pit stops to change his front wing, the Frenchman was startled by the presence of a tractor on the track, removing Carlos Sainz’s car. After the race was interrupted, Pierre Gasly strongly criticized this very dangerous intervention, which could have led to a similar accident to that of Jules Bianchi on the same circuit in 2014, resulting in his death after several months in a coma.
“It’s unacceptable, how is this possible? I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. I could have killed myself,” declared Pierre Gasly, back in the pits after the FIA finally decided to display the red flag.
The AlphaTauri driver was not the only one questioning the deployment of this intervention vehicle while the cars were still on track behind the safety car. Carlos Sainz also highlighted the dangerousness of the situation, indicating that a driver could make a mistake, go a little too far, not remember that there is a tractor and crash into it. Lando Norris also criticized this intervention in a tweet, saying “How did this happen!? We lost a life in this situation years ago. We risk our lives, especially in conditions like this. We want to race. But that… is unacceptable.”
Wtf. How’s this happened!? We lost a life in this situation years ago. We risk our lives, especially in conditions like this. We wanna race. But this… Unacceptable.
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) October 9, 2022
Following these criticisms, the FIA has finally decided to launch an investigation into the deployment of this intervention vehicle while the race was not interrupted. Although it is normal to carry out repairs on the single-seaters under safety car and red flag conditions, due to the special circumstances and in light of the comments from a number of drivers, the FIA has initiated a thorough review of the events involving the deployment of recovery vehicles during the Japanese Grand Prix, stated the governing body of world motorsport.
This is part of the common practice of analyzing all race incidents to ensure continuous improvement of processes and procedures, says the FIA.
