Davidson: New F1 circuits are too forgiving

La F1 has made immense progress in terms of safety over the last 20 years since Ayrton Senna was the last driver to lose his life in a race, at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Cars have evolved drastically as have safety features such as Hans. The circuits have also been revised with more permissive tracks than in the past, not penalizing drivers in the event of a mistake, which improves safety but which can also harm the spectacle. “I think a driver should be punished for his mistakes. This is what excites the crowds: this is the danger, racing drivers should be heroes”, commented the pilot Toyota en Endurance in The Guardian. “We do not want to see spectators or pilots injured or killed, but they should be punished. It is pathetic to see drivers go off the track carefree on certain circuits. »

The advisor of Williams F1 Team believes that the lack of challenge on certain tracks encouraged excessive risk-taking on the part of the drivers. “The track limits have become too safe. The FIA ​​has done an incredible job when you think back to where we were in the 1960s or 1970s and the cars have become even faster today. The problem is that the safer the circuit, the more unforgiving the driving becomes. There is much less respect for the safety of other drivers on the track today. They think they can be wheel to wheel in a straight line thinking, “The car is strong, it will pass,” and they drive to the limits of madness. »

The Briton is well placed to know that safety has progressed in motorsport, the latter having survived a terrible accident during the 24 Hours of Le Mans when his Toyota TS030 flew away following contact with a latecomer before ending his race in the tire wall at Mulsanne.