'Reckless' Gasly commends FIA for Suzuka crane incident report

Pierre Gasly was called "reckless" by the FIA in its Japanese Grand Prix crane incident report released on Friday, but the Frenchman was more interested in the concrete measures taken by the governing body to improve safety in the future.

Gasly made his voice heard in the heat of the moment but also after the race at Suzuka, heavily criticizing the decision to send a recovery vehicle out on the track to retrieve Carlos Sainz's stricken Ferrari while cars were lining up behind the safety car.

However, the AlphaTauri charger was running on his own and attempting to catch the queue of cars running behind the SC when he came upon the scene of Sainz's crash and unexpectedly encountered two marshals and a tractor crane working on the racing line.

Although the Frenchman had reduced his speed to the recommended delta while passing the scene, the FIA still considered that he "drove in a reckless manner by not respecting the flags, thereby ignoring the basic safety rules".

But Gasly shrugged off the characterization, insisting his interest was in how the FIA dealt with the matter in terms of improving the drivers' safety in the future.

In its report, the FIA acknowledged the ill-timed deployment of the intervention vehicle and enumerated a series of operational and communication measures that will hopefully ensure that drivers are protected and made aware in the future of the on-track presence of a recovery vehicle.

"I was most interested by what they will put in place for the future," said Gasly. "That's what I discussed with Mohammed after the race in Suzuka, that whatever happened there happened.

"And most important is just moving forward, that we make sure everybody is safe, whether it's in F1 or in the lower categories.

"And that's what they are they are working on. I think what they put in place is clearly good steps forward. I know we're going to discuss it at the drivers' briefing, and anything more we could do will be welcome.

"But I’m glad to see they worked on this matter very quickly, and came up with solutions already the race straight after that happened."

• Read also: Freitas sidelined as F1 race director following Japanese GP incident

During the race's red flag break, Gasly visited race control to express his dismay about the crane situation to co-race director Eduardo Freitas. But the Frenchman left the room even angrier after Freitas had told him that the situation was normal.

"His side of the story, my side of the story, as I've said, it doesn't matter who's right or wrong.

"At the end of the day, we are risking our life, and again we just want to be as safe as possible. There are always going to be risks driving these cars in these conditions at such speeds, but as long as we can minimise the risk.

"Tracks are homologated without cranes and tractors on track. They are safe in these conditions. The moment you put external stuff on it, then it's a very different story.

"I think they understood, and it was clear on both sides. And I'm pleased with the solutions they are putting in place."

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