The start of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort was marked by chaos that left the drivers questioning the FIA’s decision to use a Safety Car during the formation lap. The rain that fell during the formation complicated conditions on the track, causing a series of incidents in the early laps of the race.
Max Verstappen suffered a significant crash exiting the last corner of the circuit, acknowledging his fault in the incident and pointing out that he had made a mistake by trying to accelerate on a wet section. On the other hand, Gabriel Bortoleto had a near miss in the crash but managed to avoid the wall, which surprised even his teammate, Nico Hülkenberg, who was nearly involved in a collision with him.
The drivers, including Pierre Gasly, pointed out that they could have better warmed up the tires with a normal formation lap instead of completing it behind the Safety Car. Gasly stated that, based on track conditions, it was possible to start on slick tires without increasing the risks.
The drivers agreed that the procedure adopted was not appropriate, with Gasly expressing that a normal formation lap would have allowed for more effective tire warming. Red Bull teammate Liam Lawson also voiced his confusion regarding the need for the Safety Car, arguing that a formation lap behind it seemed unnecessary.
Regarding its justification, the FIA explained that the decision to activate the Safety Car was based on track conditions from feedback from the medical car, which detected standing water in various corners. Aiming to ensure safety, a formation lap behind the Safety Car was chosen, keeping two options open for the start of the race.
Carlos Sainz, a Williams driver, commented that a rolling start would not have changed the situation, given the concentration of water in the last corners. He warned that the condition of the tires and the state of the track require accurate judgment from the drivers to avoid dangerous mistakes.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
