F1 Qatar GP was “too dangerous” for drivers

On a night when quite a lot of drivers have been near passing out, Esteban Ocon was sick in his helmet, Logan Sargeant retired due to heatstroke, and the medical centre had a number of guests post-race, podium finisher Norris thinks F1 went too far when it comes to what was acceptable.

Reasonably than it merely being a case of the Qatar occasion happening in circumstances that have been too sizzling, the implications of a flat-out race, triggered by obligatory brief tyre stints on the high-speed venue, mixed to push F1 drivers to the sting.

Requested by Motorsport.com if F1 had gone over the restrict in what it anticipated drivers to do, Norris stated: “I believe immediately we most likely discovered the restrict. I believe it is unhappy we needed to discover it this fashion.

“It is by no means a pleasant state of affairs to be in, some individuals ending up within the medical centre or passing out, and issues like that. So, a reasonably harmful factor to have occurring.

“However it’s not some extent the place you may simply go, the drivers want to coach extra or do any of that. We’re in a closed automotive that will get extraordinarily sizzling in a really bodily race. And it is irritating.

“I assume on TV, it most likely does not look very bodily in any respect, however clearly, when you might have individuals who find yourself retiring or in such a nasty state, it is an excessive amount of, you realize, for the speeds we’re doing. It’s too harmful.

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing

Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool

“I do know that this race subsequent 12 months is in a while within the season, and it is going to be so much cooler a couple of months later, nevertheless it’s one thing that must be considered, and I am certain we’ll discuss it as a result of it should not have occurred within the first place.”

Race winner Max Verstappen, who maybe had a better time attributable to his Purple Bull operating in clear air on the entrance of the sphere, was clear that the issues drivers confronted have been nothing to do with not being match sufficient – it was all in regards to the circumstances.

“Once I noticed the climate earlier than coming right here, I used to be not wanting ahead to it,” he stated. “It is simply too heat, and like Lando stated, it has nothing to do with extra coaching or no matter.

“I believe a number of the guys who have been struggling are extraordinarily match, most likely even fitter than me, however simply the entire day it is such as you’re strolling round in a sauna. And in addition then within the night time the humidity goes up.

“The races are fairly lengthy, nevertheless it’s not the one place. There are a couple of locations like that. I believe Singapore is nearly like a two-hour race and it’s totally, very heat. I believe it is also fairly on the restrict of what’s what ought to be allowed. So there are some things to take a look at. However this was positively means too sizzling.”

The climate circumstances will likely be a lot improved for 2024, when the race is scheduled to happen on December 1 – when issues ought to be cooler.

However Verstappen thinks that there are loads of points that want evaluating from a Qatar weekend that was overshadowed by tyre issues triggered by revised kerbs.

“Clearly we want some discussions I take into consideration loads of issues from this weekend,” added Verstappen. “It is not a great state of affairs to be in.”