Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

F1 drivers more united on safety since Bianchi crash

Formula 1 drivers have become more unified as a group in ensuring safety is never compromised again in the wake of Jules Bianchi's crash, claim leading stars Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr.

The drivers observe the tribute to Jules Bianchi on the grid

The drivers observe the tribute to Jules Bianchi on the grid

XPB Images

The drivers observe the tribute to Jules Bianchi on the grid
Felipe Nasr, Sauber F1 Team
The drivers observe the tribute to Jules Bianchi on the grid
Sebastian Vettel, Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado, Felipe Massa attend the funeral of Jules Bianchi in Nice, France
Felipe Massa, Williams F1 Team
The helmet of Pastor Maldonado, Lotus F1 Team with a tribute to Jules Bianchi
The Lotus F1 E23 carries a tribute to Jules Bianchi
Drivers celebrate Jules Bianchi's life after his funeral service: Adrian Sutil, Roberto Mehri, Max Chilton, Alexander Rossi, Alexander Wurz, Allan McNish, Pedro de la Rosa, Jenson Button, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat

Bianchi never recovered from serious head injuries that he suffered when he hit a recovery vehicle during last year's Japanese Grand Prix. He died at the end of last month.

While F1 still comes to terms with his passing, Williams driver Felipe Massa and Sauber's Felipe Nasr both believe the sport responded correctly with changes made – and thinks that drivers are more focused on safety matters.

Nasr told Motorsport.com: “The accident with Bianchi left everybody shaken: the drivers, the category, and the FIA. I think it opened everyone's eyes and made everyone more alert.

“We are always trying to improve F1 in every aspect, and I think the drivers came together even more, since it happened.

“Since the accident a lot of things have changed. The Virtual Safety Car is working, for example.

“Now you can see it at the track for anything, if you have debris or a dangerous situation. The drivers are more aware, they have greater caution when it comes to safety.”

Bianchi repeat ‘impossible’

Massa goes as far as suggesting that the new procedures introduced by the FIA mean there should never be another accident like Bianchi's.

“After the race that killed Bianchi in Suzuka, some things have changed, such as the Virtual Safety Car," he told Motorsport.com. "It is a good idea: as an accident the same as his would be impossible to happen today.”

Fresh driver focus

Massa also believes that the Bianchi accident has unified the drivers more than ever, and given them a great belief that together they can have the power to demand safety changes.

“After the accident, the subject [of safety] came on to the agenda more often,” he said. “Nowadays the F1 cars are safe and importantly, things are done so a stupid accident as happened then does not happen again.”

He added: “The drivers are strong, but the important thing is that ideas come together. A single driver does not have the power to change something important: the important thing is to be in a group and speak the same language.”

Interviews by Felipe Motta

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Analysis: Where is F1's next Adrian Newey coming from?
Next article FIA confirms no more new F1 team entries for 2016

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global