Sauber group boss Jonathan Wheatley has heaped reward on F1’s security requirements after Gabriel Bortleto walked away to keep away from an enormous crash on the finish of the dash on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Bortleto was making an attempt to overhaul Alex Albon at Flip 1 on the ultimate lap, however misplaced management as he veered to the within of the monitor, colliding with a concrete wall after which into the surface barrier at excessive velocity. The accident occurred in oily situations and on slick tires, and most of Bortleto’s automobile was destroyed, however the Brazilian has since been evaluated at a medical centre.
“I’ve spoken to the director of the medical heart and to date he seems to be completely high-quality and unhurt,” Wheatley informed F1TV. “Initially, I believe I’ve to say that the FIA has performed an awesome job working with the groups on the security aspect. I simply noticed it at this time. With a crash of that magnitude, the one method to get the motive force again up and get him out is to go to the medical heart and I am certain he’ll be prepared for qualifying, however I simply do not find out about his automobile.”
Wheatley declined to take a position on the reason for the accident.
“Will probably be some time earlier than we discover out (the trigger),” he stated. “In fact we noticed it taking place after which we had been ready for the replay, however the first thought was to verify the motive force was okay. That was my focus after the session. I am certain we’ll see that. Frankly, this regarded like one of many greatest crashes I’ve seen shortly, and I am simply glad he was okay, and as I say, the security requirements in F1 are very spectacular.”
Wheatley stated it was unclear whether or not Sauber would be capable to get its automobile prepared for Bortolet in time for qualifying, as there have been solely three hours between the top of the dash and the following monitor session at Interlagos.
“I do not know both. We’ve not established that but,” he stated. “Clearly we’re simply going to construct a brand new automobile and we do not have time to tinker with the automobile we now have in the intervening time. We’ll simply maintain watching this house.”
“I believe it is a precedence for him to get again within the automobile and get out.”
Nico Hulkenberg additionally crashed early within the dash however was in a position to rejoin the race after the purple flag, so Wheatley believes Sauber can nonetheless achieve helpful perception regardless of the accident.
“Nico ended up ranging from the again of the grid. No less than he bought his automobile mounted and we bought slightly extra info,” he stated. “He did some operating, took slightly little bit of a step again at one level, charged the battery and did a lap, which gave him slightly extra information heading into qualifying.”
