F1 drivers to demand FIA meeting as Gasly avoids Bianchi repeat

Ted Kravitz has suggested the drivers will demand “serious discussions” with race officials after Pierre Gasly almost collided with a tractor. Kravitz has warned the drivers will talk about how a tractor on the circuit was allowed to happen after a similar incident almost a decade ago. 

Jules Bianchi suffered fatal injuries after colliding with a stationary tractor at Dunlop Curve in 2014. The Manor driver lost control of his car in wet conditions and slammed into the recovery vehicle trying to deal with a stricken Adrian Sutil.

In an almost mirror incident, Gasly came across the recovery vehicle sent on track to collect Carlos Sainz’s wreckage. The AlphaTauri star met the tractor as he raced back to reach the back of the safety car having been forced to pit for a new nose.

Kravitz explained: “Shades of that fateful race in 2014 with Jules Bianchi. If this does anything I guess it will give the drivers an opportunity to get out of their cars and talk about the incident Pierre Gasly had on his way back to the pits on his full wet tyres after his pitstop when he encountered that recovery vehicle on track. 

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A statement read: “The Safety Car had been deployed and the race neutralised. Car 10, which had collected damage and pitted behind the Safety Car, was driving at high speed to catch up to the field. As conditions were deteriorating, the Red Flag was shown before Car 10 passed the location of the incident where it had been damaged the previous lap.”

Williams driver Alex Albon has confirmed drivers have already talked about issues involving recovery vehicles in a drivers briefing. He also suggested the issue will be discussed more in future meetings as drivers try to improve safety.

Albon commented: “We already tackled it as it kind of happened in Singapore. Seb (Vettel) raised it in the drivers’ briefing earlier this week. Of course we know what happened, we don’t want to talk about it. It is really dangerous.”