Kevin Magnussen has defended his own actions on track by suggestions drivers are compromised by a lack of rear visibility.
The Haas driver has been involved in several incidents with the most recent in Suzuka where he and Charles Leclerc made contact down the pit straight as the Monegasque looked to make a move.
Magnussen wasn’t penalised although later the FIA did accept similar incidents would be punished as the topic of defensive driving remains up for debate but the Dane maintains the mirrors are part of the problem.
“I have to say I think he was right to change his opinion because it was too late that I moved over but the problem is that you can’t see the guy behind you until he moves,” he said, referring to race director Charlie Whiting who deemed Magnussen’s actions in Japan as dangerous two weeks after the event.
“You’ve got the rear wing so when the guy’s right behind you, you don’t see. As soon as he moves out that’s when he becomes visible. So you can’t do anything but react when you see.
“These cars are really bad. You can only see when he’s at an angle so either in a corner or off-set. Right behind you, you’re blind.”
A new idea that is to be trialled is replacing the mirrors with cameras giving the driver a clear view and that has been backed by 2019 Sauber driver Antonio Giovinazzi who has used a similar system before in the WEC.
“I think it’s a good thing. Now it’s really difficult to see with the mirrors with the aerodynamics at the back of the car, so maybe a screen will help,” the Italian said.
“It will depend where you put the screen and everything, but I think it can be a good option.
“In an endurance race you need the mirrors more because an LMP1 car is coming or a GT car is behind you, so you need to see more.
“I think this was really good for drivers to have a camera to see what’s behind.”
