F1 News: George Russell Fights For Rule Change Following Australian GP Crash - ‘Lives Are At Risk’

George Russell believes more needs to be done in the event of a crash.

May 4, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) of Great Britain / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

George Russell has called for urgent safety reforms following his scary crash at the Australian Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago. The Mercedes driver found himself in a treacherous situation left stranded in the middle of the track with his W15 on its side, sparking a call for instantaneous safety protocols in Formula 1.

Key Takeaways:

• George Russell experienced a dangerous crash at the Australian GP, leading to calls for improved safety measures.
• Russell suggests an automatic Virtual Safety Car (VSC) system to prevent similar incidents.
• The FIA is currently evaluating the situation, which could influence future safety regulations at race events.

Jun 18, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Mercedes driver George Russell (GBR) parades and salutes the / David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

George Russell's experience during the final lap of the Australian Grand Prix has ignited discussions within the Formula 1 community about the efficacy of current safety measures and the potential for technological advancements to avoid such situations. Stranded in the middle of the track with his Mercedes W15 precariously tilted, Russell found himself in what he described as an "incredibly uncomfortable position," with the imminent threat of being struck by oncoming vehicles at high speeds.

The British driver shouted over the team radio in a panic at the time, as quoted by Planet F1:

“Red flag! Red flag! Red flag! I’m in the middle of the track! Red flag! Red flag! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red!

“I’m in the middle! Red! F**king hell!”

Russell's encounter highlighted the critical moments following a crash, where every second counts towards ensuring the safety of the drivers. Despite the rapid response, which saw a yellow flag digital board activated within seconds and double yellow flags waved shortly thereafter, the consensus is that the measures were not prompt enough. Russell reflected on the situation ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, explaining to Autosport:

"You're on a blind bend, [where cars approach at] 250km/h, right on the racing line with the car half upside down. [I was] waiting for disaster to happen.

"Fortunately, I had a 10-second gap behind me and I think it was 10 or 12 seconds before the virtual safety car came out.

"But in the space of 10 seconds, you can have five, six, seven cars if that was on lap one of the race and [I would've] probably been hit numerous times, even with the yellow flag."

Big impact for George Russell 😮

Good to see the Mercedes man walk away unscathed from this crash 👍#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/Jsq6RZ1UBS

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024

The Mercedes driver continued:

"We've seen close incidents before where a car comes back [onto the track after a crash] – Carlos [Sainz] in 2022 in Japan.

"I think we need to find a way that if a car is in a danger zone, [there could be an] automated VSC straight away – within half a second or so because those seconds count.

"Lives are at risk. We've seen it at Spa numerous times in the past, [with] cars aquaplaning. I think it's time with the technology that we have to make steps in this area."

The FIA's ongoing review of the incident could lead to significant changes, particularly concerning how quickly safety measures are enacted during a race.