Can Formula 1 learn from the death of Bianchi?

Posted on 19-07-2015 at 13:51 by Dizono – 31 Comments”

Yes and no. Why such discussions are so terribly difficult.

Nine months after his violent crash during the grand prix of Japan, Friday, Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi (25) has died. Fairly quickly after his crash flared the debate about the safety of the Formula 1 back on and now will have this discussion again soon.

As almost always, seems to be the reason why Bianchi was killed is not clear. It is said that Bianchi’s team -despite the yellow flag – lot, had to drive to the hole with his vehicle in front to close. It is also suggested that the used tow truck to the previously crashed car of Adrian Sutil way to break a high back.

Yes, perhaps it was the accident ended otherwise if Bianchi other teamorders had received, as the material of the marshals had been different. As the Formula 1 cars so smaller domes had been. If they are at the time of the crash, all virtual safetycars had. If, if, if. Each accident had to avoid ‘if’. And that is what fatal accidents also so tragic, the question will always be so-called. So also in the case of Bianchi. The only way to help that as-ask Bianchi not more, but hopefully other drivers.

You can the Formula 1 completely safely?

Formula 1 is racing, and -even though there will be some who otherwise claim to be – a sport. Sport is about performance at the extreme limit. Everything from yourself and your equipment get to the edge to look without about going. Whether it’s racing, football, swimming or cycling, that edge is unfortunately sometimes exceeded. Sometimes it is materiaalpech, sometimes an error in judgment, and in other cases, our own body and succumb to it. Each athlete takes a greater risk than we ordinary mortals. That they know and that they accept.

Of course, it is good to constantly monitor the safety of drivers under the microscope. Nevertheless, it is ultimately people who are in powerful machines 300+ km/h driving and continuously try faster, and faster still to go. That combination of speed and competition will always be dangerous to continue. A dome had this accident may be avoided, but in the case of a crash with fire, they can just as well backfire.

And then there’s the argument that you are at this kind of moments really should not be used: Formula 1 should be more exciting. One of the reasons that fatal accidents in Formula 1, fortunately, increasingly rare, is that the cars becoming easier to drive and by restrictions and regulations and less on the limit can be and is driven. And that is also the reason that the Formula 1 respected popularity. Read your own comments again on the articles to that effect, look what (ex-) drivers there had to say. Of course to hear at this moment no one about, but it shows the impossible dilemma the sport is.

The death of Bianchi’s quite sad, and I sincerely hope that this is the last fatal accident in Formula 1. That the lessons learned from the accident of Bianchi to be drawn into the lives of other drivers will save. At the same time I know that it is probably a vain hope. That Bianchi will not be the last.