Formula 1

Gasly, Leclerc furious following tractor incident during Japanese GP

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Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc were furious after a tractor was seen on track during the Safety Car at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The race was neutralised following a crash for Carlos Sainz, who aquaplaned into the barrier rounding 200R on the approach to Spoon on the opening lap in wet conditions at Suzuka.

Gasly then pitted for a new front wing after collecting an advertising board that was dislodged by the Spaniard's crash.

But as he came around to catch the back of the pack behind the Safety Car, he was seen passing a recovery tractor at high speed that had emerged on the side of the circuit to collect the stricken Ferrari.

"God! What the... what is this tractor? What is this tractor on track?" he fumed on the radio.

"I passed next to it like. This is unacceptable. Remember what has happened. I can't believe this."

Of course "what has happened" was the horrific accident for Jules Bianchi also at Suzuka in similar conditions in 2014.

The Marussia driver slid off the track and hit a tractor collecting the Sauber of Adrian Sutil who crashed rounding the Dunlop curve, sustaining the head injuries that ultimately claimed his life nine months later.

Bianchi JapGP 2014

In this instance, the recovery vehicle was already on track before the pack came around behind the Safety Car, also infuriating Charles Leclerc, the godson of Bianchi.

"What the f**k is this crane," the Monegasque said.

The FIA issued a statement on the incident explaining: "The Safety Car had been deployed and the race neutralised.

"Car 10 [Gasly], which had collected damage and pitted behind the SC, was then driving at high speed to catch up to the field.

"As conditions were deteriorating, the red flag was shown before Car 10 passed the location of the incident where it had been damaged the previous lap."

The timing of the red flag though appears to be merely a few seconds before Gasly passed the incident zone, explaining why he was travelling at a higher speed to catch the field.

Asked about the incident, Sainz told Sky Sports: "I don't know if people understand but even under Safety Car we are going at 150kph.

"Even at that speed we don't see anything so if one car goes out of racing line or driver changes something on the steering wheel and gets a bit out of line and hits a tractor it's over.

"You were going to red flag it anyway, so why risk it with a tractor on track," he queried.

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