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Wurz wants to make cars safer but travel to extreme tracks

Published on 20 May 2017 10:59
3
By: Fergal Walsh

Chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association Alex Wurz believes that Formula 1 should prioritise making cars much safer to drive, then make trips to more extreme tracks. Wurz, who leads the GPDA, spearheads safety standards for Formula 1 drivers.

However, the former Benetton driver would be in favour of F1 returning to some extreme tracks if the already fantastic safety standards could be bolstered even further. In 2018, F1 is set to run with a 'shield' which in theory protects the driver's head from flying objects.

"Formula 1 has to be authentic, with the fastest cars and the best drivers on the coolest circuits," Wurz explained to GPUpdate.net, as he addressed safety.

"In order for us to keep up with the speed, the perception of speed, because the perception of speed is changing nowadays with computer games and Hollywood movies, we have to make sure our product on TV appears very fast and looks challenging.

"Someone watching on TV at home has to think, 'Wow, I could not drive these cars', just by looking at it, it doesn't even need a good commentator. They must be heroes who drive these cars, and my point to achieve this is, yes we have to go faster, and what we are doing already in going faster is good. I would make the cars safer, but then I'd go to way more extreme circuit designs.

Wurz also said that 2018's introduction of cockpit protection should be left up to the professionals, but says he was never a fan of the 'halo' system, a concept that was heavily criticised by fans and drivers alike.

"Between the FIA, the Strategy Group and all the stakeholders they've said they want to investigate the shield as additional head protection," he said. "I'm not a promoter of the halo in the sense that... I don't find it beautiful.

"I prefer [for Formula 1 to go ahead with] what the safety experts say, as since 30 years they increased the safety without jeopardising performance. In 30 years we had way fewer accidents, but we have a way of increasing popularity, so there's no correlation of safer cars being less popular."

Fergal Walsh

F1 News

Replies (3)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
What extreme tracks does he have in mind? I cant really think of that many that are outside of the F1 venue that I would call suitable. There is Fuji and Autopolis in Japan, but they offer the same level of challenge as Suzuka, in a different way. Chang International Circuit in Thailand tend to have great races. There is Zandvoort (but that track has deemed to be not suitable for F1 as of present), and there is the now bankrupt Nürburgring. Maybe Laguna Seca, those are pretty much the ones I can think of on top of my head. Japan already has one GP, other countries should be prioritized first over two races in one country, the same goes for laguna Seca, so that leaves quite few races.
- + 0
- May 20 2017 - 12:02
- f1fan0101
  
  Posts: 1,804
  Imaging F1 cars going through the corkscrew.. Incredible, I'd like to see a return to Magny-Cours, Imola and Istanbul Park
  + 0
  
  May 20 2017 - 12:03
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  That'd be great. I'd like to see Imola and Istanbul Park aswell, dont really recall a race from Magny-Cours, however the problem is that Imola is in Italy, so we'll likely either have Imola or Monza, and Turkey is right beside an ongoing war, thus its not a very suitable venue.
  + 0
  
  May 20 2017 - 13:56