Silence about the Formula 2 accident
06.09.2019
D his generation of racing drivers only knows death on the racetrack as an extreme accident that could have happened in any other area of life. Jules Bianchi's collision with a tractor at the 2014 Japanese GP was such an example. This happens once every 100 years. The fatal Formula 2 crash of Anthoine Hubert last weekend in Spa had a different quality. It was a racing accident that can happen in any racing series if only enough unfortunate factors come together.
Nine of the 20 Formula 1 drivers were confronted with a fatal accident at a racing event for the first time. Even if it took place in Formula 2, the event was very close. The race took place immediately after the Formula 1 qualification and many drivers knew the unfortunate Anthoine Hubert personally.
The general speechlessness in the paddock also has to do with the fact that the FIA has initiated an investigation into the accident and itself many drivers shy away from hasty judgments. The Belgian public prosecutor is also investigating. Every word could be put too much on the gold scales.
Sauber Junior Team
Dedications for the deceased Anthouine Hubert could be seen on all Formula 2 cars in Monza.
Despite the accident, the fear does not go with it
Six days after the tragedy in Spa, many young drivers are still trying to suppress the events. When asked what Formula 1 can learn from the accident, George Russell refuses to say: 'I don't want to talk about that.'
Others are completely silent. You don't want to recall the images of Spa anymore. Carlos Sainz is one of the few drivers who goes on the offensive: “Until a week ago we only had paved run-off zones in this contexttalked that there are problems with the route limitation. Suddenly everyone realizes that these run-off zones could also be dangerous. ”
The Spaniard was happy that he was able to drive a race on Sunday. “Getting back into the car was the best medicine against the shock that we all experienced on Saturday.” So fear doesn't go along with it: “I only think of the dangers of this sport when racing in the rain, when you're at 300 km /h drive with zero visibility. You're a bit more cautious. ”Charles Leclerc confirms:“ As soon as I get into the car, everything else disappears. ”
Lando Norris defends himself against allegations made by earlier generations of racing drivers that today's computer kids are in get in the eye with the belief that nothing can happen because in the virtual world you can get yourself back into the race with a click of the mouse after every accident. 'There is no relationship between one and the other. Accidents don't hurt in the simulator, but I'm not so naive as to believe that it's the same in real life. '
Control for evasive maneuvers
Charles Leclerc agrees with Norris:' Me I was always aware that I was involved in a dangerous sport. If you are traveling at high speeds, this is automatically associated with risks. The death of Anthoine was a shock, but not a wake-up call in the sense that we didn't know beforehand how high the risk was. The sport has become much safer than before, but even if nothing has happened for a long time, none of us believed that it had to stay that way. ”
Lewis Hamilton belongs to the older generation in the field. Nevertheless, he sees no connection in the fact that computer games or simulator driving could deprive his young colleagues of their respect for the dangers: “The simulator does not free you from fear. It has more to do with age. As a young person, you think less about risks. Our sport will always be dangerous. That says the logic. If you drive at over 300 km /h at the limit, the rope is very thin. So you have to be aware that accidents like in Spa can happen again and again. '
Sebastian Vettel sees it the same way:' Fortunately, it's not like in Jackie Stewart's time, where much more often Drivers have died. But the accidents of Jules Bianchi and Anthoine Hubert showed us that it can still happen and that there are still lessons we can learn from such accidents. ”
For Sebastian Vettel it is too early to draw conclusions from the accident: “There is now a detailed investigation for this. We don't yet have the complete picture of what really happened. ”Nico Hülkenberg at least suggests that evasive maneuvers in asphalt run-off zones should be checked. “They invite you to continue driving at high speed. I think that has to be regulated. ”
