The circumstances of Jules Bianchi’s life-threatening crash with a recovery vehicle in heavy rain at Suzuka last Sunday were “totally unacceptable” and must not be repeated, according to Sergio Perez.
The Mexican Force India driver told reporters on Thursday that the accident needed to be explained and then studied in detail, but he stressed that changes must be made no matter what.
Speaking on the eve of opening practice for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix, Perez said recovery vehicles must only be used on the circuit during a race after a Safety Car has been deployed.
Frenchman Bianchi, 25, crashed with a recovery vehicle in heavy rain during last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. He suffered severe head injuries and remained in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital in Yokkaichi.
“What happened on Sunday is totally unacceptable,” said Perez. “We to have full details and a full answer from the FIA (International Motoring Federation, the sport’s ruling body) and we need to get together.
“We need full explanations of what happened and what we are going to change. We have to have answers from the FIA on what happened in this tragic accident. We have to make sure they hear us."
Perez, 24, said he had never experienced anything like the shock of Bianchi’s accident and its implications before in his career. “It was one of those weekends,” he explained.
“I have never had this in my whole career. I am fully on Jules’ side – and it could have been avoided.
“We are here now, in Sochi, a new circuit, a nice place, and you are now interested and care only about Jules … always looking to the internet and talking to the people in the paddock for news of him. “It is not a normal weekend.”
Asked by Sky Sports News if he had confidence in the current arrangements for the use of Safety Cars, he said: “No. I don’t. And that is something we have to improve.”
He added: “In the future, when there is a tractor coming up to pick up the car, we need a safety car, in no matter what conditions.
“There is always a risk. Even if it is dry -- because you expose the marshals and a lot of people.
“You can have people running out of brakes. There are so many factors you never expect so, if you have the tractor there, it is a big problem."
As the F1 circus regrouped ahead of Sunday’s race, he made clear also that the drivers are likely to hold a meeting of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) to review their position.
Source: AFP