Huge trouble about the recovery crane on the side of the track

A recovery crane on the side of the track infuriated French Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly as he raced past at the Grand Prix in Japan. “What is this tractor doing on the track,” the Alpha Tauri driver shouted to his team on the pit radio on Sunday: “I drove right past it. This is not acceptable. Remember what happened. I can’t believe it.” He later swore that he could have killed himself in this situation and ran through the paddock in anger.

Gasly remembered October 5, 2014. Eight years ago, his good friend Jules Bianchi crashed under a towing crane in a horror accident in the rain at Suzuka. He suffered serious head injuries and Bianchi died as a result the following summer in 2015. It was the last death in Formula 1 to date.

After the start of the Grand Prix this year, the incident with Gasly and the recovery crane occurred on the second lap. However, the race had already been interrupted with a red flag at this point. Gasly wanted to catch up with the field and drove much too fast after a pit stop at this point.

Such scenes after Bianchi's accident remain in the minds of drivers. © APA/epa / HIROSHI YAMAMURA

The world association initiated an investigation into the incident and subsequently gave Gasly two penalty points and a 20-second penalty because he had illegally driven 251 kilometers per hour on the wet track despite red flags at one point.

The Frenchman should have driven extremely carefully, also because he knew that there had been an accident at that point a lap earlier. It should have been clear to him that there was at least a chance that recovery vehicles or people would be on the course.

However, several drivers shared Gasly's anger. “We will have to talk about why this crane was on the track,” said Williams driver Alexander Albon on Sky.

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Huge trouble about the recovery crane on the side of the track

Shortly after the start, things get chaotic at the Formula 1 race in Japan. A risky incident involving a recovery vehicle in particular is causing a stir. Pierre Gasly rages – and is punished.

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