F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone called for "an independent inquiry into the accident at the Japanese Grand Prix that has left Jules Bianchi in intensive care," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Ecclestone, who was not in Japan, "wants to clear up any doubt over the circumstances surrounding the dreadful accident in the final laps of the race at Suzuka when Bianchi’s Marussia car left the circuit and smashed into a recovery tractor." He wants the FIA "to hand the investigation over to a team of expert lawyers to ensure that there is no repeat of the events that overshadowed a dramatic grand prix won by Lewis Hamilton as dusk fell on a drenched Suzuka." FIA President Jean Todt "already asked for a detailed internal report" from Race Dir Charlie Whiting. An FIA statement said, “[The report] will aim to be as complete and detailed as possible in order to understand exactly the accident that occurred.” It is a first step, but Ecclestone "wants transparency and speed." Ecclestone said, “It is difficult for me to say what happened and it will be for an inquiry to find out exactly what did go on. We have done so much for safety. These days, you see an accident on the track and the driver undoes his safety belt, flips off his steering wheel and jumps out unharmed. I have always said that if I was going to have an accident, it would be in a Formula One car because they are the safest in the world. But things happen and we have to find out the cause. This happened to a young man who is very close to us all and that has caused a terrible shock for everyone. Our thoughts are with him and his family” (
LONDON TIMES, 10/7). In London, Daniel Johnson wrote an "urgent investigation has been opened into the horrific crash" as F1 embarks on a "fresh round of soul-searching after the worst incident involving a driver at a race weekend" for five years. An FIA source said that the report "is likely to be completed in the coming days, and certainly before the inaugural Russian Grand Prix in Sochi next weekend," amid growing criticism of some of the safety measures surrounding the 25-year-old’s accident. Whiting traveled to Sochi on Monday to prepare for the new event, "and was telephoned by Todt to set up the critical inquiry." He "will study the telemetry from the crash, speak to stewards as well as marshals, it is understood." Questions raised by former drivers "have largely centred on the recovery tractor used, which Bianchi hit as it was removing Adrian Sutil’s stricken Sauber." Former F1 driver Martin Brundle "queried the particular use of those recovery vehicles." Brundle: "My concern is those things on track. I nearly lost my life against one of them, just missed and hit a marshal. They are just too high and you are sitting down low" (
TELEGRAPH, 10/6).
'BAD LUCK': REUTERS' Patrick Johnston wrote Suzuka Circuit spokesperson Masamichi Miyazaki said that the crash "was down to bad luck rather than poor judgment by Japanese Grand Prix race officials." Miyazaki said, "Officials raised 'double yellow flags' after the accident by Sutil, which means drivers had to slow down to the speed that they can immediately stop, but unfortunately Bianchi's car aquaplaned right at the time and ran into the accident site, which was bad luck. Admittedly, rain was coming and the road was wet, but not heavy enough to halt the race, and I believe the race officials made the same judgment." Formula One "remains proud of its improved safety record and constantly strives to make cars safer, but acknowledges the sport will always be dangerous" (REUTERS, 10/7).
CLOSED COCKPITS? In London, Eason wrote the biggest change to F1 car design "has leapt on to the agenda after the horrific crash." The sport’s single-seater tradition "demands that the driver’s head remains open to the elements." But film footage shot by a fan at the fateful seventh corner of Suzuka on Sunday "shows how exposed Bianchi’s head was as his Marussia car left the circuit at 130mph and slammed into the rear of a recovery vehicle by the side of the track." Research carried out by the FIA "shows that closed cockpits could protect drivers from the worst of such an impact." The idea of closing a driver into his car "will alienate millions of traditionalists but the Bianchi crash and its appalling consequences could be the catalyst for change." Williams Performance Dir Rob Smedley said that if the FIA demands closed cockpits, "the sport’s engineers can provide -- and quickly." The FIA "has already conducted tests and concluded that canopies along the lines of jet fighters will work." Smedley said, "From a technical point of view it’s something very easy to implement. It is something that we have looked at in lots of the technical working group meetings and we have been back and forwards. Whether that would have made a difference to the accident that Jules had, I have no idea. We don’t know how strong anyone’s car is in that type of accident. It is a freak accident" (LONDON TIMES, 10/7).
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