Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc has urged Formula 1 to identify a solution for the “dangerous” walls of spray which is created by the new generation of challengers.
Formula 1’s new rules and regulation based on radical aerodynamics and ground effect cars for the 2022 Formula 1 championship has definitely delivered cars which offer drivers more overtaking possibilities, given the fact that they are able to run closer together much more than in previous years. However, the new regulation has also led to another unwanted side-effect alongside the well-known porpoising and bouncing issues which have been that highly discussed during recent months.
As the new single-seaters are now running much closer to the ground, in case a race takes place in very wet conditions, especially as difficult as those seen during the Japan Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit last weekend – the ‘rooster-tail’ plumes kicked up mean drivers have almost zero visibility behind the leader.
Taking into consideration the risks involved for all drivers, Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc believes this is an urgent matter which need full attention. The Ferrari driver also pointed out this has an adverse effect on the show seen on track, because in such conditions there is a high possibility the cars do not race.
“A big problem with these cars is just the visibility. So whatever we can do to try and improve the visibility and minimise the spray, especially for the cars behind, this will be hugely beneficial. I believe that sometimes we can actually run despite the conditions of the track but just because of the visibility, because it’s so dangerous being behind and you don’t see anything, we end up not running at all. Yeah, we should try and find a solution to try and minimise the spray.” – Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc explained.
The Monegasque admits that the situation in the Japanese Grand Prix was not helped by the fact that from the laps to the grid to the start of the Suzuka race, the rain intensity and the amount of water on track increased.
The FIA still decided to begin the race with a standing start, but the race was red flagged after Charles Maranello team-mate Carlos Sainz hit the barriers on the first lap. There was also a scary moment as cars were running behind the safety car in the difficult wet conditions, while a recovery vehicle entered the track to clear the F1-75 of Carlos.
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The moments recalled the events which took place at Suzuka in 2014, when Ferrari junior Jules Bianchi sustained fatal injuries in a crash on the wet surface. For Charles Leclerc, what happened last weekend brought memories flooding back of that day.
“We shouldn’t see these types of things. Of course, something happened in 2014 and we all know that and we should all learn from it. Once you are first [behind the safety car], it’s actually quite okay but once you are behind you don’t see anything. And whenever you try to have a bit more visibility, you can get surprised by having a crane in the middle of the track. So yeah, it shouldn’t happen and I really hope we learn from it and that these things, we don’t see them again.” – the Ferrari driver concluded, as he looked back on the Japanese Grand Prix.
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