Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard believes the sport is doing itself a disservice with its poor handling of wet weather races this season.
F1 endured its first wet weather weekend in São Paulo. After a treacherous qualifying session saw Lando Norris sail to pole position, the conditions worsened into Sunday. Providing fans with one of the most entertaining races of the season, without a single intervention from race control.
The race proved to fans and pundits alike that the sport can still race in wet weather conditions, despite previous failed attempts. Earlier this season, a rain-soaked Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia came with its own technical challenges as the first wet race with the new regulations. However, Coulthard believes Brazil showcased F1’s potential in the wet.
“The FIA ultimately have the call on whether the track is open or not. They take a decision based on, I guess, some feedback from the drivers over time. And also applying previous knowledge from races where there was a lot of standing water and cars were aquaplaning off,” Coulthard told the Up to Speed podcast.
“So, I do get it. I do get that in the same way: an aircraft is not a boat unless it’s a flying boat. Therefore, you’ve got to take the vehicle, the device, into the intended environment. But we definitely are a lot more health- and safety-conscious. This is the modern world we live in.”
“I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt. Of course not. But I do think sometimes we don’t fully respect the history by racing on the side of caution. Rather than ‘Let’s give it a go!’
But he also acknowledged the harsh realities of his own statement. Claiming that whilst this may be a disservice to the sport’s history, it is a double-edged sword for the FIA.
“Now, as I’m saying that, I realise the problem in my very statement because if you give it a go and it goes wrong. Then the question is why did you allow that to happen? Where, if you like, if you go on the side of caution, you have people going, “Well, why don’t we see wet running anymore?”
READ MORE – Mercedes offers explanation following bizarre Brazilian GP incidents
Discussion about this post