FIA to review placement of barrier that irked Bottas
FIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi says he will review the placement of the Tecpro barrier at the final corner in Mexico City after Valtteri Bottas’s huge accident in qualifying.
The Finn ran wide and hit the concrete wall and slid along it before making a heavy impact with what he called the “nasty” blunt end of the Tecpro barrier, opening it up and causing considerable damage to his Mercedes.
Asked by Motorsport.com if he would bring up the subject with the FIA, Bottas made it clear that he would.
“Yes, definitely, we should try and avoid those kind of Tecpro things,” he said. “It’s a good thing, but how it starts – maybe it should start earlier or much later – it’s not ideal.
“It would have been all fine, and no pain at all if we had continued along the wall like it was. For sure we’ll bring it up.”
Former Grand Prix driver Mark Webber has also questioned the location of the barrier, noting on Twitter: “[Tecpro] not needed at all at the last corner.”
Masi said that the barrier starts where it does as research suggested that’s where it was needed.
“As part of the circuit’s licensing, and when it would have been done a number of years ago, the Tecpro is based on impact angles of various simulations,” he said. “And that showed quite a severe impact angle based on the simulations.
“Anything prior to that was effectively within our tolerance, anything where the Tecpro is was outside of the tolerance. Having seen that incident [Bottas had] we’re going to have a look and see how it could be improved.”
Masi said it wasn’t possible to make changes for Sunday’s race: “The circuit’s been homologated with that – that side of it has been homologated, tried and tested, I’m certainly not going to be pulling out a major safety feature, which is what it is.”
Masi doesn’t believe that there are similar examples at other venues.
“From memory I can’t recall anything at this point that is similar of that nature, so it’s something where first let’s look at the whole picture, rather than a knee-jerk reaction, and actually get a true understanding of what it is and if we can improve it and then how can we improve it.
“We had a Tecpro team here this weekend as there is a lot of events, and they’re going to have a look at all of it as well. I think it’s a lesson to all of us, I don’t think we ever stop learning.”
Previous article
Binotto: "A shame" to see Ferrari engine legality questioned
Next article
"Painful" Mexican GP "a reminder" for McLaren
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Mexican GP |
| Sub-event | Race |
| Drivers | Valtteri Bottas |
| Author | Adam Cooper |
How Do Drivers Stay Fit For F1 Grand Prix?
Ronnie Peterson and Jochen Rindt Tribute
#ThinkingForward with Juan Pablo Montoya
The themes to watch in F1's Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. Ben Anderson looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says Nigel Roebuck.
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Is Formula 1 as good as it has ever been now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle.
How Raikkonen's rapid rise stalled his teammate's F1 career climb
Kimi Raikkonen's emergence as a Formula 1 star in his rookie campaign remains one of the legendary storylines from 2001, but his exploits had an unwanted impact on his Sauber teammate's own prospects. Twenty years on from his first F1 podium at the Brazilian GP, here's how Nick Heidfeld's career was chilled by the Iceman.
