My comments have been seconded by the BMW Williams team and the Speed tv commentators. Given they are at the site one would hope their word is stronger than mine.

 

I was there in person.

 

i'm happy that Honda has a podium now. Thats good for all of us who love hondas in my opinion.... Sato was the guy to do it so that's cool. It could have been someone else really, as long as Honda can show that it is a serious motor co. Good race too.

 

FIA rules regarding safety vehicles and response procedures were developed with one thing in mind, speed. The speed that the cars reach. A safety vehicle going in reverse around a track makes the closing speed nearly 300 mph, a rate in which reaction time by the racer or the safety driver is negligible to avoid a head-on. Also, how would you like to jump out on the track while other cars are still at speed, having heard/seen no indication that there is a problem in the corner ahead beyond a yellow flag that is usually not in a prominent viewing position?

At the very least I think the FIA can afford the cash to implement a PA system in the way of a common band voice communications channel to warn all drivers simultaneously of on-track incidents and in what corner. Since F1 drivers are required to be able to speak english in a "functional" manner, there shouldn't be too much of an issue with language barrier. Such a system would also make more sense than the IRL style caution light mounted in the cars, since road courses are much longer and have more blind sections of the track.

In all, I'm sure everyone would have liked the safety crew to have reacted quicker, or have the FIA bunch the field back up and slow them down. In a perfect world, that might even be the most viable solution. As it is, safety car periods and red flags change the entire character of the race, one look back at Monaco tells you that much. Until you're willing to try and play dodgeball with a 220 mph low flying speed machine, I don't think it's really fair to expect safety crews to do a hugely better job than they currently are.

 

And your point? Of course the team will say the same. The speed tv commentators are probably used to oval courses rather than a road course. Also they are still just spectators.

It takes time to do things right and in a safe manor. Going is when the track is not yet safe will only cause more injuries or worse.