2014 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

[Töm87]

let's face it. It was just really really bad luck. Everyone knew it was going to happen some day. For 20 years F1 drivers have been really lucky.

[FW17]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/ ... R_05_J.jpg

Cockpit headrest broken in two.

The roll bar and airbox cover totally mangled

Apparently they used the jaws of life to extricate him so come cockpit damage may be due to extrication rather than impact.

Daily Mail has removed that picture

[rifrafs2kees]

I dont see that Charlie did anything wrong.

It's easy for people to have 20/20 vision with hindsight.

Those same people pointing fingers at CW would be the same ones complaining at starting under the SC or the many times CW has deployed the SC in the past.

And it'd be just that...nobody would be injured or dead

[Jano11]

I dont see that Charlie did anything wrong.

He should've called in the SC immediately after Sutil's crash... It baffled me when i saw the race carry on... In that corner, in increasing rain it's asking for trouble not bringing the SC... My initial worry was some other car hitting Sutil's car but worse happened...

Sutil's car was 10 seconds from being out of the way. Double waved yellows is standard procedure, Sutil was out the car, so it was no different to any other crash.

Even half a second is enough for this to happen.
Charlie lost too much time at the start behind the SC, when the drivers were asking to race, and he tried to make up that time at the end by not sending out the SC in a dangerous situation. He has clearly lost his marbles and has to leave.
He is responsible for the Bianchi situation, should be happy this isn't Italy.

[search]

I dont see that Charlie did anything wrong.

It's easy for people to have 20/20 vision with hindsight.

Those same people pointing fingers at CW would be the same ones complaining at starting under the SC or the many times CW has deployed the SC in the past.

Sutil said plenty of other drivers were going through that corner at full speed even after the safety car was deployed - so a crash like this also could have happened if the safety car had been deployed immediately.

[Shakeman]

Salo is reported to have confirmed Bianchi did receive blow to the head and his car passed under the tractor the latter was obvious from the images.

[e30ernest]

From Sky Sports F1:

Medical helicopter could fly and did take off to check conditions. BIANCHI was taken by a road ambulance due to MEDICAL reasons, not due to visibility or weather conditions.

What kind of medical reason would prevent an airlift? Shouldn't that still be a better option since it will get Bianchi to the hospital sooner?

[timbo]

And it'd be just that...nobody would be injured or dead

Remember Canada last year? Bad things can always happen.

[prince]

I dont see that Charlie did anything wrong.

He should've called in the SC immediately after Sutil's crash... It baffled me when i saw the race carry on... In that corner, in increasing rain it's asking for trouble not bringing the SC... My initial worry was some other car hitting Sutil's car but worse happened...

Sutil's car was 10 seconds from being out of the way. Double waved yellows is standard procedure, Sutil was out the car, so it was no different to any other crash.

Absolutely. Jules crash came after almost one lap since Sutil went in that corner. The JCB and the marshals were quickly into action to clear the situation and were probably thinking it was normal and safe to remove as there is yellow flag there. Then the unfortunate event happened. I don't think there is anyone to blame here. None of us want to see a Safety Car in small instances (referring to Sutil's incident) and it would have been normal to recover Sutil's car. But it was extremely unfortunate that Jules came there when the JCB was doing its job.

Now arguing whose mistake it was, makes no sense. Our prayers are with Jules. [-o<

[ChrisM40]

Seeing some reports that the car actually went in and hit the crane backwards, rather than nose in. It then swung round and thats when the headrest area came in contact with something. We can only hope this reduces the chance of serious injury.

[Jano11]

I dont see that Charlie did anything wrong.

It's easy for people to have 20/20 vision with hindsight.

Those same people pointing fingers at CW would be the same ones complaining at starting under the SC or the many times CW has deployed the SC in the past.

Exactly .Charlie's job is impossible. He cant win either way.

He can't win, but that isn't his target, his target is to keep drivers from very dangerous situations and today he failed miserably. Somehow he thinks that aquaplaning and risking a hit with the barriers is worse then hitting a tractor. Hi age is showing him up, time to go.

[NathanOlder]

Even half a second is enough for this to happen.
Charlie lost too much time at the start behind the SC, when the drivers were asking to race, and he tried to make up that time at the end by not sending out the SC in a dangerous situation. He has clearly lost his marbles and has to leave.
He is responsible for the Bianchi situation, should be happy this isn't Italy.

Give it a rest. You cant point the finger like that. We would have a multiple safety cars every race on that basis

[Jano11]

I dont see that Charlie did anything wrong.

It's easy for people to have 20/20 vision with hindsight.

Those same people pointing fingers at CW would be the same ones complaining at starting under the SC or the many times CW has deployed the SC in the past.

Sutil said plenty of other drivers were going through that corner at full speed even after the safety car was deployed - so a crash like this also could have happened if the safety car had been deployed immediately.

Once yellows are waved and/or SC is out they all have to drive to a delta time, the FIA should check if any were not doing that and sanction them.

[mertol]

I'm pointing the finger at inconsistent SC deployment and penalties and what not. This guy has to go.

[timbo]

Even half a second is enough for this to happen.
Charlie lost too much time at the start behind the SC, when the drivers were asking to race, and he tried to make up that time at the end by not sending out the SC in a dangerous situation. He has clearly lost his marbles and has to leave.
He is responsible for the Bianchi situation, should be happy this isn't Italy.

Nobody tried to make up anything. Everything went on standard procedures.

There is always a risk when a car is on track. What if car stops and other car crashes into it, when the driver is leaving the cockpit? That's why we have yellows.

The thing to look at is the review of the extraction routes on tracks. The safety barrier configuration should prevent such things to happen.