Pierre Gasly has claimed that the drivers need to “respect each other” in Saudi Arabia due to the inheritent risks of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is one of the most exciting races for fans. However, for the drivers, it can be one of the most dangerous due to limited run-off and visibility.
While speaking to the media, including Motorsport.com, in Saudi Arabia, the Frenchman was asked his opinions of the track and its balance between high risk and exciting racing. He explained:
“As a racing driver, I must say you’re more focusing on, you know, the track layout itself, and I’m probably less so focused on the safety aspect of it. Yeah, it is very high speed, the walls are very close, from the track, you have kind of poor visibility.
“Over the years, there have been some changes which did improve [it]. But then at the end of the day it’s also F1, and there will always be a safety concern in some ways. So, it’s not something that’s really in the back of my head and I’m just going out there knowing that I got a strong car, I’m in control of what I do and I’m feeling safe when I’m in my car. That’s all I can control, and it does feel like we’re not in a bad place here, but for sure, there are other tracks which bring a bit more safety to it.”
Gasly’s former team-mate Esteban Ocon claimed that Jeddah is a “very risky track in a lot of different ways. You are quite blind in many corners, you need to take risks getting close, you know, at crazy speed. 300 kH you are doing at seven in corners, so it’s quite nuts.”
Addressing the Haas driver’s comments, Gasly added:
“That’s quite a big statement. All I can say is, the least amount of cars you’ve got in front of you, the safer it is. So, all I’m focused on is trying to qualify as further up the road as I can.”
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The Alpine driver was asked if having the extra risk at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is accompanied by ‘extra reward,’ Gasly responded:
“For me, I get a lot of adrenaline going around here, you run high, you know, especially on this first sector. I think it’s racing is OK. The only part which is not very comfortable is more like whenever people come in a slow lap when you are pushing and the fact that you have this poor visibility, sometimes you come very fast and you’ve got a very short time to actually react so I think it’s all down to us.
“We know the place is as it is, it’s down to us to be careful in that aspect, to respect each other and give the right space to each other. I think as long as everybody behaves accordingly, then it’s completely safe.”
