News Digest

Bianchi’s ‘unacceptable’ crash could have been avoided, says F1 driver Perez

The crash that left Jules Bianchi with severe head injuries last weekend was “totally unacceptable” and could have been avoided, Force India driver Sergio Perez insisted on Thursday. Ahead of this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, the Mexican said drivers will be asking governing body the FIA for “explanations of what happened and what are we going to change going forward”. “It is not acceptable,” said the Force India driver. Meanwhile, Williams’ Felipe Massa described the Japanese Grand Prix as “the worst race of my life.” The Brazilian, who had surgery on a fractured skull after crashing during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, added: “It was worse than the race of my accident, because I didn’t remember it anyway. We will try to race for him.”

In the future when there is a tractor coming up to pick up the car, we need a safety car, no matter what the conditions.

Sergio Perez

Bianchi is in a critical but stable condition after crashing into a tractor recovery vehicle during last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. The FIA have asked race director Charlie Whiting for a report on the crash. The 25-year-old Frenchman lost control at the same point on the track where Sauber’s Adrian Sutil had spun the lap before. The tractor was taking Sutil’s car out of the run-off area. Perez said he believed F1 should adopt a new approach that meant a safety car should be sent out to control the cars whenever recovery vehicles were being used.

Definitely my mind is with him in this moment and praying for him.

Fernando Alonso