Drivers in the press conference ahead of the Italian Grand Prix had they say on the introduction of a new tarmac area on the outside of the Parabolica corner.
The FIA decided to lay down extra tarmac at the famous corner prior to this weekend’s race with the aim of improving the safety levels of the Monza track, with many fans not being in favour of the modifications made as it robs the race track of a driver challenge.
Although it was said by race director Charlie Whiting that the drivers lead the way in the call to make the changes, many drivers themselves in the press conference were outspoken about them, with most proclaiming their preference for the corner to feature gravel traps despite acknowledging the changes being made for safety reasons.
“I really think last year was maybe a bit more challenging in a way, because you were always in the exit going with the outside wheels going in the white line and you knew that if you go a couple of centimetres too wide that’s it, you go off”. Valtteri Bottas said.
“But now it doesn’t matter if you go a bit over the white line, you just need to keep a least two wheels on the track and that’s it. But it’s still a good track, just one corner is less exciting.”
McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen more or less agreed with Bottas’ thoughts, adding that he doesn’t “think we’re making the track more unsafe by having gravel.”
“It’s still an awesome circuit, I’m sure, and I’m still going to really enjoy driving it, I know that for sure. Haven’t driven it yet so we’ll see how it is.”
Lewis Hamilton had mixed opinions on the modifications, while being aware of the great emphasis the sport’s govering body put on safety standards, he appreciates the challenge gravel traps and grass bring to a racing track, but also believes that it is difficult to strike a balance between driver satisfaction and safety.
“I think the FIA are very, very conscious of safety and I think that’s nothing to shy away from, that’s a very important issue,” said Hamilton.
“But I’m old-school so I like the old circuits, back in the nineties when there was no Tarmac run-off areas and it was grass because even last year when you went around that corner you didn’t know, and I experienced it last year, I went wide through a mistake, and you paid for the mistake.
“But what is really important is if you have an incident the Tarmac does slow the car down better. It is a good move, but you can’t win both sides.”
Hamilton’s team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg was in support of the new run-off.
“It was one of the more risky corners that we still had in our calendar,” he said.
“It definitely makes things a lot safer and that is the right direction to go in.”
Referring back to the drivers proposals of making the changes, Fernando Alonso didn’t believe that the FIA took full account of what the drivers said about dealing with potential car problems when heading into the corner at full speed.
“There had been some discussions in the past for the entry, probably, in case you have a brake failure or something, to have the possibility to go straight, get on the gravel and hit the tyres.” Alonso explained.
“But probably from mid to exit of the corner [to have been paved], that was probably a surprise.”
