Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz believes that the FIA feared possible complaints from the fans and as a result decided for the Japanese Grand Prix to have a standing start, despite the difficult conditions caused by the heavy rain.
Following a wet Friday during the first two free practice sessions at the Suzuka circuit, qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix was held in dry conditions, while weather reports indicated possible rain once again for Sunday’s main event. And indeed rain started to fall not long before the Suzuka race, but despite the poor visibility and heavy rain, the 2022 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix began on time with a standing start, as Carlos Sainz was the first unlucky one to spin out and hit the barriers after just a few corners.
“I tried to get out of Perez’s spray and found myself in a big puddle, had aquaplaning and couldn’t do anything to hold the car,” Carlos Sainz said in an interview for Sky Sports F1 as he looked back on the incident in the first lap of the Japanese Grand Prix – “At that moment my only concern was not being hit. I was in a dangerous position in the middle of the track and I knew the other drivers couldn’t see me.”
The only positive note was that all drivers managed to somehow avoid Carlos Sainz as he bounced back on track, before the race was red flagged a few moments later with the rain intensifying and after several other early shunts.
The Spanish driver does not feel that beginning the race with a standing start was the right call in the first place and thinks the FIA were worried about how the fans would react if the Suzuka event was to begin with a rolling start.
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The events were similar to what could be seen in Singapore just seven days earlier. At the Marina Bay, the start was delayed due to torrential storm hitting the circuit, but race control decided to wait even longer, until the circuit was ready for intermediate tyres by the time the Singapore Grand Prix eventually started:
“It was maybe that the best would have been a rolling start on extreme [wet tyres], but anyway it was going to get worse, just to avoid any dangerous situation. But then they call us: ‘If we start in a rolling start on extreme (wets) everyone complains that Formula One doesn’t race in the wet.’ But when you see the situation, basically we’re driving without visibility. So how can you drive a Formula One car at 300 kph (186mph) without visibility?” – Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz explained.
The Japan Grand Prix was them resumed after about two hours and 28 laps were completed before the race clock ran out. Despite the limited running, race control awarded full points to the drivers, much to the surprise to fans, media and even the teams themselves.
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