Yesterday’s MotoGP race delivered dramatic and chaotic scenes. While our publication primarily focuses on Formula 1, we felt compelled to weigh in after criticism emerged during the second red-flag stoppage regarding the layout of the Barcelona circuit — a venue Formula 1 will return to in less than a month, from June 12 to 14.
Following the first incident involving Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez, the MotoGP race was restarted from the grid after a lengthy delay. Perhaps the riders had lost concentration, or perhaps — and this is probably the more realistic explanation — sometimes motorsport simply unfolds this way.
What happened next was dramatic. At the restart, as the riders approached Turn 1, Johann Zarco lost control of his bike under braking and crashed heavily into Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini. Race control immediately responded by bringing out a second red flag.
Before going any further, we want to reassure everyone who followed the race that the riders involved in today’s incidents remained conscious. Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco were both taken to hospital for further medical checks. Zarco is suspected of having suffered a fractured femur, while Alex Marquez later posted that the situation was under control as he awaited surgery overnight. We wish all of the riders involved a full and speedy recovery.
Barcelona circuit comes under fire
During the second red flag, criticism quickly turned toward the circuit itself. The argument was straightforward: the start-finish line is too far from the first corner, allowing riders to build excessive speed into the braking zone and increasing the likelihood of a major accident.
We respectfully disagree.
It is certainly true that a longer run from the grid to Turn 1 increases top speed at the end of the straight, potentially making any impact more severe during the approach to the opening corner. However, that distance does not directly determine the probability of an accident occurring.
Formula 1 history tells a different story
As a Formula 1-focused outlet, it is worth looking at some examples from four-wheel racing.
Two of the most notorious opening-lap crashes in Formula 1 history happened at circuits where the distance between the starting grid and the first corner is relatively short.
One obvious example is the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lance Stroll misjudged his braking point in wet conditions and triggered a multi-car incident that ruined the races of several competitors. Lance Stroll himself, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc were all forced to retire immediately, while Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo sustained damage but managed to finish. Max Verstappen crossed the line in ninth, while Daniel Ricciardo ended outside the points.
Then there was the infamous 2012 Belgian Grand Prix, when Romain Grosjean caused a spectacular first-corner crash that could have had extremely serious consequences for Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari. Fortunately, while the incident led to multiple retirements, no driver suffered serious injuries. Four drivers retired on the spot: Romain Grosjean, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Sergio Perez.
Not every accident can be designed away
In our view, predicting and completely preventing racing incidents is incredibly difficult.
Yes, having the starting line closer to Turn 1 reduces the speed of bikes or cars entering the braking zone, but that alone does not eliminate the risk of collisions.
That said, both the FIM and the FIA continue to introduce new safety measures every year in an effort to reduce risks and better protect competitors. Like every motorsport fan, we never want to witness incidents that put riders’ or drivers’ lives in danger.
However, placing all the blame on the circuit itself can be an easy conclusion that does not necessarily address the root cause of such incidents. Motorsport has repeatedly shown us that some accidents, unfortunately, are simply impossible to predict.
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