Most Formula 1 drivers have welcomed plans to alter the barrier layout at Eau Rouge/Raidillon following a recent increase in big accidents.
Two years ago, F2 driver Anthoine Hubert was tragically killed after being hit by Juan Manuel Correa, who was unsighted coming over the top of Raidillon.
And this year alone there have been four notable crashes at the corner, with three coming this weekend alone across F1, F3 and W Series.
All this has once again led to questions over safety at the iconic Eau Rouge sequence, as highlighted by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
“It’s very obvious that this corner has a fundamental issue that means when you crash, first of all, you crash very heavy and second, you crash back into the circuit,” he said even before watching his former McLaren teammate Lando Norris suffer a hefty impact in qualifying.
“This is why, in these kind of conditions in the spray, if someone in P2 crashes and someone coming in P17 doesn’t know, it’s an extremely dangerous situation that we as drivers, we have asked for changes.
“We’ve asked for reviewing this corner, and we’ve been told that the FIA is already on it. So we are more calm about it, but this year is going to be another tricky one.”
Changes to the run-off and barriers for next year come as Spa is pushing to again host motorcycle races in the future, while a new grandstand is also expected to be constructed.
And Max Verstappen echoed many on the grid with his support for the alterations.
“It is a very fast corner and when you go through it everything is fine, of course,” said the Dutchman.
“But the problem is when the barrier is so close, when one person hits the barrier, the car bounces back onto the track, onto the racing line and you can collect another car.
“Even if it happens a little bit later, you go over the crest, it’s blind as well. As it was in the Spa 24-hour race with the GT3 cars, there was a massive crash.
“I do think with the changes being made it will be a lot better,” he added.
“Racing is never going to be fully safe. Everyone knows that but there are a few things around that corner that can be helped by doing that. I think it’s going to be a lot better.”
Sebastian Vettel though went even further, suggesting the corner itself needs to be tightened.
“These changes would have helped but I think in general probably Eau Rouge is too easy,” said the Aston Martin driver.
“They made it too easy for us to go a lot faster than we should, probably, in that place.
“It was a lot tighter many years ago so maybe we should go back to that. Always having more run-off is good because it’s a fast corner but the question is, is it too fast?
“In the dry, it is not a corner for us but if something goes wrong it goes horribly wrong and in the wet, it is just a lift so it’s probably too fast for what it is.”
Also Read:
- Norris targets race day comeback after getting all-clear following Eau Rouge crash
- FIA defends Spa safety amid calls for Eau Rouge changes after 24 Hours crash
At the other end of the spectrum, Lewis Hamilton fears changing anything would take away its mystic.
“I think they’ve just got to get rid of the bump and then leave Eau Rouge as it is, in my opinion,” he said.
“The fact this track still holds the essence of that danger, I think it’s good. I just hope the changes don’t take that away.
“Eau Rouge is already flat in the dry, easy. It’s really nice and tricky in the rain and that’s why Eau Rouge is Eau Rouge.
“I hope the changes make it safer but don’t make it any less special, heart in your mouth, you know?
“They’ll do what they do but I don’t think they need to spend the money.”
