Opinion: Driver safety after Spa-Francorchamps 2019

The powers that be often come under attack from some members of the motorsport fanbase when it comes to driver safety.

Tracks are sterilised. Drivers are hidden away. The high octane, danger-filled sport of the past is gone.

Almost.

For someone born after 1990, and therefore started watching Formula 1 after the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in 1994, it can be hard to see eye-to-eye with those who believe safety features are ‘killing the sport’. The fact someone could die competing in modern F1 was not something we thought about, and that danger was never part of the reason why I personally fell in love with the sport.

When that reality hit in 2014, it was sickening. The danger did not make it more exciting. It made motorsport hard to watch, and personally, I was glad when measures were implemented to try to ensure it never happened again.

It’s a generational thing.

But whether or not the fan base (or drivers) agree, steps will always be taken after devastating incidents such as what happened at Spa last year.

Reading through the report, it’s hard to disagree with the conclusions. This was not driver error or a marshal acting slowly. There was nothing any party could have done to change the outcome. It was a freak accident.

It’s likely any learnings taken from the incident will surround the design of the monocoque and safety barriers. Is there a way either can be improved to dissipate the energy better?

As outsiders, and in no way experts, it would be wrong for any of us to say ‘this specifically should change’. But no doubt the FIA safety team will investigate these areas, experiment with solutions, and take the next step in driver safety.

Of course, changing the car or dirver protective gear is but one solution and calls, even from those in the FIA, came for the implementation of a gravel trap at the exit of Radillon. Extending the run-off zone is an option, however, with the mountainous nature of the track, serious investment would be needed to terraform the hillside behind the barriers.

Speaking to local publication Belga about planned renovation to the circuit, Spa-Francorchamps CEO Nathalie Maillet spoke specifically about the complex.

“We’re not planning to modify the actual layout of the Raidillon. But it’s certain that we will install gravel traps. The regulations for bikes are more strict, so the upgrade for motorcycles will have positive consequences for cars.

“Currently, we’re debating where to put the gravel traps and their depth, and if they will need to cover the entire length of a corner.” – Nathalie Maillet

The move was to put the circuit in line with FIM standards for Motocycle racing, though planning to accomidate the race cars will now be at the forethought of everyone’s mind.

We cannot always point to incidents and say ‘this would have killed the driver if this safety feature was not implemented’ and visa versa. In fact, it’s often a combination of multiple features. But, considering the drastic reduction in driver deaths over the decades as these features have come into place, it would be wilfully ignorant to say steps in safety measures have not worked.

The accident in Spa was awful. We can only hope Anthoine Hubert’s death was not in vain.