Alain Prost, the four-time drivers’ champion, among others, have criticised
the failure to send out the safety car while Adrian Sutil’s Sauber was being
cleared. Prost said: “The entry of this crane [on to the circuit] without
the safety car is totally unacceptable.
“It’s a real mistake that should not be repeated.” Debate has also
centred on whether closed cockpits should be introduced to protect drivers’
heads. Claire Williams, the Williams deputy team principal, said yesterday
it should be on the agenda. “I think it’s something we have to look at,” she
told the Leaders’ Sport Business Summit. “If it can improve safety then, of
course, it has to be on the agenda as a conversation to have.
“But, enclosed cockpits, they’re not easy, technically, for us to integrate
into a Formula One car and they change the very nature of what a car looks
like. We have to look at all the options available to us, whether that’s an
enclosed cockpit or not. But I think those conversations need to go on
behind the scenes.”
Although drivers expressed their excitement at tackling the new track in
Sochi, given its location around the Olympic Park, many said that first and
foremost their thoughts were with Bianchi 5,000 miles away in his Yokkaichi
hospital bed, where he remains in a “critical but stable” condition.
Lewis
Hamilton, who won the Japanese Grand Prix, summed up the subdued
mood. “It’s difficult to know what to say after a weekend like the one in
Japan,” he said. “As I crossed the line, obviously I was pleased to have
finally won at Suzuka – but as soon as we got back to the pits and heard
what happened to Jules it suddenly didn’t seem relevant anymore. My thoughts
and prayers are with him and his family.”
Ferrari, who count Bianchi among their young drivers, added: “The team is in
Sochi, all our thoughts remain in Suzuka. Hopes for Michael [Schumacher] as
well. #ForzaJules #ForzaMichael.”
The 25-year-old’s condition – along with economic sanctions on the country
taking their toll – have all put a damper on Russia’s festivities. Cregan
admitted events in Japan would dominate this race.
“Last weekend tends to overshadow it [the event in Russia], and rightly so,”
he said. “We just have to make sure we never stop looking for improved
safety measures. We’re trying to learn from everything.”
While defence chiefs admitted this week a costly revamp of the armed forces
would have to be shelved, no expense has been spared on this event, with
vast hotels adjacent to the state-of-the-art track. But none of that seemed
particularly relevant, with Bianchi’s name still poignantly emblazoned above
the Marussia garage.
Preparations began as best they could, with Graeme Lowdon, sporting director,
arriving in Sochi on Wednesday night, while John Booth, team principal, is
expected to remain at Bianchi’s bedside all weekend. Marussia have not made
any announcements about who will drive Bianchi’s car in Sochi, although they
are expected to race.
But the team suffered yet another setback on Wednesday, when their junior team
had to pull out due to financial woes. Marussia Manor Racing, which competes
in GP3, a feeder series to F1, said the team’s freight of equipment for
Sochi failed to make last week’s deadline. They insisted it was not
connected to Bianchi’s accident.