On Friday, September 25, Formula One made its way to Tokyo, Japan for the Japanese Grand Prix. This, though, was not like any other Grand Prix in the racing calendar – almost a year back at this same location at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix on October 5, the world watched in horror as Jules Bianchi, a 25-year old French driver crashed into a tractor crane in one of the worst accidents in F1 history. Bianchi suffered from severe head injuries and was subsequently hospitalised, but unfortunately never recovered. Eight months after the incident, Bianchi passed away as a result of complications to his injuries, becoming the first F1 driver to be killed during a Grand Prix, after Ayrton Senna in 1994.
It was a gloomy, rainy day in Japan on the day of the tragedy. Bianchi started at the 20th position on the grid. On turn seven, German driver Adrian Sutil was unable to control his car, leading it to spin and hit the tyre barrier. Sutil retired immediately but a tractor crane arrived for the removal of his car. A few seconds later, Bianchi crashed straight into the rear of the tractor crane with massive force. Initial reports suggested that the speed of his car was 212 kilometres per hour, but later it was clarified to be around 120 kilometres per hour – the equivalent of dropping a “car 48 metres to the ground.”
Divided sentiments
Bianchi’s injury (and subsequent tragedy) led to renewed calls for stronger safety regulations in a sport which had prided itself on making a dangerous sport noticeably “safer” after the death of Ayrton Senna. As sport, Formula 1 is not short on the danger element. Driving at unheard of speeds in an open cockpit in sometimes treacherous conditions are part and parcel of the sport. The risk of danger has paradoxically become an intrinsic part of the sport, supposedly being part of its appeal. It has reached such a level that drivers themselves prefer not even to dwell on the topic, preferring to deal with it as part and parcel of the sport.
“There is a job to be done”, said Nicolas Rosberg, one of the top F1 racers right now. “I need to get into that car, close my eyes, put the emotions away and concentrate on doing the job.” There is also the belief that fans of the sport are attracted because of the inherent danger in the sport – and that any effort at making it safer takes away from the “DNA of the sport”. In fact, in an interview this year in June, Kimi Raikonnen, who races for Ferrari, was quoted as saying that he believed that Formula One could be a “little more dangerous”.
Closed cockpits
Bianchi’s debate led to the introduction of the virtual safety car which makes drivers slow down to a predetermined lap time. But a bigger issue which has split the racing community down the middle is the proposed introduction of closed cockpits – a radical departure from the open cockpits seen presently. Detractors argue that the introduction of such closed cockpits would take away from the excitement of the race. Even the racers – conceivably the individuals most likely to benefit from the introduction of closed cockpits, are undecided – Nico Hulkenberg, for example, argued that “racers knew the risks” and that “we should not sterilise everything”, while F1 veteran Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel have come out in favour of closed cockpits.
As the anniversary of Bianchi’s accident nears, frequent reminders pop up about the inherent dangers of the sport – Justin Wilson, a British racer sustained fatal head injuries during an accident at IndyCar’s Pocono 500, while Formula One legend Nelson Piquet's son Pedro Piquet miraculously emerged unscathed after a horrifying crash in Brazil, where his vehicle flipped nine times. Racing is a sport which drives the adrenaline, but it should never be for the sake of a promising, young life cut short.
It was a gloomy, rainy day in Japan on the day of the tragedy. Bianchi started at the 20th position on the grid. On turn seven, German driver Adrian Sutil was unable to control his car, leading it to spin and hit the tyre barrier. Sutil retired immediately but a tractor crane arrived for the removal of his car. A few seconds later, Bianchi crashed straight into the rear of the tractor crane with massive force. Initial reports suggested that the speed of his car was 212 kilometres per hour, but later it was clarified to be around 120 kilometres per hour – the equivalent of dropping a “car 48 metres to the ground.”
Divided sentiments
Bianchi’s injury (and subsequent tragedy) led to renewed calls for stronger safety regulations in a sport which had prided itself on making a dangerous sport noticeably “safer” after the death of Ayrton Senna. As sport, Formula 1 is not short on the danger element. Driving at unheard of speeds in an open cockpit in sometimes treacherous conditions are part and parcel of the sport. The risk of danger has paradoxically become an intrinsic part of the sport, supposedly being part of its appeal. It has reached such a level that drivers themselves prefer not even to dwell on the topic, preferring to deal with it as part and parcel of the sport.
“There is a job to be done”, said Nicolas Rosberg, one of the top F1 racers right now. “I need to get into that car, close my eyes, put the emotions away and concentrate on doing the job.” There is also the belief that fans of the sport are attracted because of the inherent danger in the sport – and that any effort at making it safer takes away from the “DNA of the sport”. In fact, in an interview this year in June, Kimi Raikonnen, who races for Ferrari, was quoted as saying that he believed that Formula One could be a “little more dangerous”.
Closed cockpits
Bianchi’s debate led to the introduction of the virtual safety car which makes drivers slow down to a predetermined lap time. But a bigger issue which has split the racing community down the middle is the proposed introduction of closed cockpits – a radical departure from the open cockpits seen presently. Detractors argue that the introduction of such closed cockpits would take away from the excitement of the race. Even the racers – conceivably the individuals most likely to benefit from the introduction of closed cockpits, are undecided – Nico Hulkenberg, for example, argued that “racers knew the risks” and that “we should not sterilise everything”, while F1 veteran Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel have come out in favour of closed cockpits.
As the anniversary of Bianchi’s accident nears, frequent reminders pop up about the inherent dangers of the sport – Justin Wilson, a British racer sustained fatal head injuries during an accident at IndyCar’s Pocono 500, while Formula One legend Nelson Piquet's son Pedro Piquet miraculously emerged unscathed after a horrifying crash in Brazil, where his vehicle flipped nine times. Racing is a sport which drives the adrenaline, but it should never be for the sake of a promising, young life cut short.
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