The veteran Formula 1 driver, David Coulthard, has shared his perspective on the dangerous closing speeds that can occur in the sport, following the spectacular crash of Ollie Bearman during the Japanese Grand Prix, where he suffered a 50G impact.
Bearman, a Haas driver, managed to avoid his teammate Franco Colapinto, who was in a moment of energy recovery, before colliding with the barriers. Despite the impact, the driver was able to exit the vehicle under his own power and was attended to by medical personnel on-site, who declared him out of danger.
In his podcast Up To Speed, Coulthard recalled a similar incident he experienced in the 90s with Fernando Alonso at the Nürburgring circuit. “As a former driver, I know what closing speed feels like. I was about to impact Alonso because he slowed down 20 meters before the previous lap.” Coulthard highlighted the severity of the situation in which he ended up avoiding a serious accident.
Moreover, he commented on the risks associated with closing speeds, especially in adverse weather conditions. “Closing speeds are the scariest thing for a driver, and we’ve seen cases in rainy conditions where drivers can’t see the vehicles in front of them. I vividly remember the time Schumacher had an incident with me at Spa, and Senna‘s situation in Australia.”
Regarding Bearman’s accident, Coulthard noted that the young driver was lucky not to collide with Colapinto’s vehicle. He pointed out that a 50G crash is an extreme state and shared examples of tests that have been conducted on how far a human can go. “A Swedish driver, Kenny Brack, had an accident that was recorded at 200G and, although his career ended, he survived.”
Coulthard concluded that the way a driver withstands an impact can mean the difference between life and death. “For Ollie, he was suddenly stopped, and while he was able to walk away limping from the accident, what he has experienced must be an important topic of debate.”
The FIA plans to meet during the unexpected break in April to discuss possible adjustments to the new regulations, focusing on driver safety on the track.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
