F1 News, Reports and Race Results

FIA should prioritise yellow flags over Halo - Grosjean

Romain Grosjean believes the FIA is focusing on the wrong aspects of F1 safety by not punishing Nico Rosberg for setting a best sector time under double waved yellow flags.

Rosberg took pole position in Hungary last weekend despite a spin for Fernando Alonso which caused the majority of drivers to slow greatly due to double waved yellow flags. The FIA were happy Rosberg lifted enough on approach to the sector, but many drivers want further clarification.

Grosjean was initially asked about his thoughts on the Halo which will be voted on by the Strategy Group today, to which he said he is against the device's introduction.

“I don’t want to stop safety in Formula One and it’s great, but if we’re racing drivers then we make a choice to come into a dangerous sport and I’m not at all in favour of the Halo," Grosjean said. "I think it goes against the DNA in Formula One, against what I’ve seen as a kid or since it started in 1950.

"On top of that there has been a few downsides. We don’t know what it’s going to be like when it’s raining; we don’t know what it’s going to be like on a track like Spa-Francorchamps where you’re up and down; we don’t know what it’s going to be like in Singapore with the lights and the Halo; we’ve already got issues with the weight; and it’s ugly.

"If it comes, fine. But again if I had to vote I would vote against.”

When then asked for his views on the yellow flag incident for Rosberg in Budapest, Grosjean replied: “Now that… If we want to improve safety that is the first one to improve because setting pole position under a double yellow is a bit dodgy.

"The thing is that he didn’t get anything so everyone is going to push the limit and say ‘I backed off, look, I backed off’ even if it’s a [nothing]. I think if we want to make the safety grade we are an example for all the young drivers, that when it’s yellow we need to slow down.

"We’re lucky in Formula One because we have the radio, we have the best cars, we have the best marshals but if there’s a young guy racing Formula Renault 2.0 who sees they can do a pole position under a yellow flag then he’s going to go for the same and there may be marshals or whatever on the track. That is something I think we can do better.”

Chris Medland's 2016 German Grand Prix preview

FEATURE: Halo: splitting opinion in F1

Scene at the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

Recent Posts

McLaren to review Sunday's fateful pit stop timing

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about its…

6 mins ago

Williams' Boutsen hoists the mainsail in Adelaide

On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…

1 hour ago

Horner: Max 'answered critics' with epic Sao Paulo GP drive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…

2 hours ago

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

3 hours ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

4 hours ago

Alpine double-podium in Brazil could deliver $30 million windfall

Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…

19 hours ago