Max Verstappen has argued against making snap changes to circuits following Anthoine Hubert’s fatal crash at Spa last weekend.
The incident at the top of Eau Rouge/Raidillon has once again brought the issue of safety to the forefront of minds with an investigation being undertaken by the FIA.
A lot of focus has been on run-off areas and whether they should be altered to stop drivers from taking liberties but also questions over safety at corners like Eau Rouge have been raised
“There are many tracks on the calendar where if something bad happens, it can be really bad. So we’d have to start changing a lot,” Verstappen suggested on Thursday.
“When you have a fatal accident it’s easy to say you have to start to open up the corner but I think it was a bit of a freak and unlucky accident anyway.
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“There are many dangerous corners on the calendar and it’s part of F1 and racing in general, unfortunately. It was just very unlucky what happened.
“It’s the same if someone spins in the middle of the track and somebody drives into you, it can always be a really bad accident. To now suddenly say we have to start changing the tracks, I don’t agree with that.”
Verstappen also notes that drivers understand the risks that come with taking on some of motorsport’s old-school circuits.
“Of course it’s very sad what happened. Spa is always going to be a bit dangerous around Eau Rouge and it’s a bit of a blind corner.
“[But] then why are we racing in Monaco because for me that’s also a very dangerous track if you look at it.
“But we do it, that’s what we are used to and unfortunately accidents happen.”
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas was more open to what the FIA might suggest but agreed the risk will never be totally eradicated,
“The thing is in this sport there is an element that will always create dangerous situations and that’s the speed,” said the Finn.
“When cars go more than 300kph there’s certain things you can do to minimise the damage and some things you really can’t.
“I know for sure the FIA is pushing hard on that. We all drivers respect it a lot and we know we are in the safest hands that is possible at this time and for sure there’s still improvements to be done and found as these things shouldn’t happen.”
