During the closing laps of the Canadian Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon’s Alpine F1 car experienced violent oscillations in its rear wing while negotiating the high Montreal kerbs.
This incident raised concerns for McLaren driver Lando Norris, who promptly informed his team about the issue. Norris later expressed his apprehension, stating that he was wary of the wing detaching while driving at high speeds.
Despite the wobbling, Ocon managed to secure an eighth-place finish, and his team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, assured that the engineers determined there was no immediate risk of a catastrophic failure.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, immediately voiced his opinion after the race, highlighting the severity of the situation. He remarked that had a similar problem occurred on one of his team’s cars, it would likely have been called into the pits.
Stella emphasized the importance of understanding the construction of one’s car and assessing any issues promptly. He questioned whether he would have allowed his driver to continue under such conditions, acknowledging the sense of responsibility each team should have. Stella expressed his hope that if the FIA delegate or race director deemed the situation unsafe, they would intervene accordingly.
McLaren intends to raise questions regarding the judgment of the FIA and the race director during the FIA’s next F1 Sporting Advisory Committee meeting. Stella believes it is necessary to discuss whether the responsibility for determining safety should solely rest with the teams, as it may lead to potential conflicts of interest.
Post-race inspections confirmed the integrity of Ocon’s car, thereby closing the matter from the FIA’s perspective. In an effort to reduce the use of black and orange flags in the 2022 season, the FIA has delegated the decision of whether to continue with a damaged car to the teams themselves. This decision was unanimously supported by the teams, who argue that they possess a better understanding of their own car designs than the governing body. However, Stella suggests that further debate is necessary to address potential conflicts of interest in matters of safety.
Stella added that the decision to retire or continue with a damaged car ultimately falls to the teams. He acknowledged the dilemma faced by teams, who must balance their competitive drive with the safety of everyone involved. Stella expects this debate to receive more attention during the upcoming sporting advisory committee meeting, as it holds significant importance.
In conclusion, the McLaren team insists on further discussion within the FIA regarding the responsibility for determining the safety of F1 cars. The recent incident involving Ocon’s rear wing wobble has sparked concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the need for external intervention when safety is at stake.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about FIA safety debate
What was the issue with Ocon’s rear wing in the Canadian Grand Prix?
During the Canadian Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon’s Alpine F1 car experienced violent oscillations in its rear wing while going over the high Montreal kerbs.
How did Lando Norris react to the issue?
Lando Norris, the McLaren driver chasing Ocon, raised concerns with his team about the rear wing wobble. He expressed his fear that the wing might come off while driving on the straights.
Did Ocon’s team deem the situation safe?
Yes, Ocon’s team boss, Otmar Szafnauer, stated that their engineers assessed the situation and determined there was no risk of a catastrophic failure. Ocon continued to finish the race in eighth place.
What did McLaren’s Team Principal, Andrea Stella, say about the incident?
Andrea Stella of McLaren commented that if the same issue had occurred on one of his team’s cars, it would likely have been called into the pits. He emphasized the sense of responsibility teams have in assessing the safety of their cars and expressed hope for intervention from the FIA or race director if they deemed the situation dangerous.
Will there be further discussion on this matter?
Yes, McLaren intends to raise questions and initiate further debate at the FIA’s next F1 Sporting Advisory Committee meeting. They want to discuss whether the responsibility for determining safety should solely lie with the teams and if conflicts of interest may arise.
What decision has the FIA made regarding damaged cars?
The FIA has shifted the responsibility of deciding whether to continue with a damaged car to the teams themselves. This decision was unanimously supported by the teams, who argue that they possess a better understanding of their own car designs than the governing body.
What is the concern regarding this decision?
Andrea Stella raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest that may arise when teams are responsible for deciding on the safety of their cars. He believes further debate is needed to address this matter.
3 comments
ocon’s wing goin crazy! norris scared it’s gonna fall off! mclaren says fia shud do more 2 keep us safe. good point, coz teams wanna win, but safety matters more! #FIAdebate
Mclaren wants deb8 on ocon’s wing wobble & fia safety decisions. they worry bout conflicts of interest. hope they fix this b4 sumthing bad happens! #SafetyFirst
mclaren wants fia 2 look into ocon wing thing. they think teams might b biased. safety’s at stake, man! hope they sort it out soon. don’t want crashes cuz of wobbly wings! #FIAdebate