Sainz urges F1 to 'listen to the drivers' on safety ahead of key April meeting

Carlos Sainz, speaking as a Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) director, has issued a direct plea for Formula 1's rulemakers to prioritize driver feedback over team interests when addressing safety and overtaking issues, following Oliver Bearman's heavy crash in Japan. He warns that massive speed differences between cars in corners are creating dangerous, non-competitive racing conditions that could lead to serious accidents.

Why it matters:

Driver safety and the quality of on-track racing are at a critical juncture. While teams may have differing competitive interests, drivers provide a unified, on-the-ground perspective on the real-world dangers of current aerodynamic regulations. Ignoring their collective voice risks perpetuating a hazardous environment where surprise, high-speed collisions become more likely, undermining both the sport's safety credentials and its spectacle.

The Details:

• The call to action was prompted by Oliver Bearman's crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, where the rookie went onto the grass at the Spoon corner and hit the barrier after taking evasive action.
• Sainz pinpointed the core problem as extreme speed deltas, stating, "There's no category I think in the world where you have this kind of closing speed... that's when big accidents can happen."
• He criticized the current decision-making process, arguing, "That's the problem when you listen only to the teams. They will think their racing is okay because maybe they're having fun watching it on the TV, but from a driver standpoint... that's actually not racing."
• The Ferrari driver emphasized that drivers, despite having "no seat at the table" in formal regulatory discussions, possess essential firsthand experience of the risks.

What's next:

A pivotal meeting involving the FIA, F1, and teams is scheduled for April 9th to discuss these pressing issues.

• Sainz has outlined a clear demand for a two-phase plan: immediate steps to improve the situation by the Miami Grand Prix in May, followed by a more substantial regulatory change for the medium-term future, potentially by next season.
• His message is unequivocal: "I really hope they listen to us and they focus on the feedback we give them rather than only listening to the teams." The outcome of the April meeting will be a key test of whether the sport's governance is willing to heed this call.