A motor racing legend has called it "laughable" that drivers complained about the conditions at the Brazilian GP, claiming they were too dangerous for racing.
While substituting for the unwell Kevin Magnussen at Haas, rookie Oliver Bearman radioed his team, saying, "Come on, talk to the FIA – this is really dangerous. I'm trying not to die."
Even experienced driver George Russell, a senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, criticized the FIA, suggesting the organization prioritizes "action" for viewers over safety in the rainy conditions.
"I was shocked," he said. "I couldn't even keep my foot on the throttle on the straight. I guess the FIA likes action."
Hans-Joachim Stuck, a veteran of over 80 grands prix in the 70s and a two-time Le Mans winner, found the complaints hard to take seriously.
"Are they racing drivers or not?" the 73-year-old German asked, speaking to Eurosport. "Do they only want to drive in perfect conditions? All you have to do is take your foot off the gas and master the situation. This isn't a drive along Kurfürstendamm to have a coffee."
Stuck was also critical of the FIA's decision to delay qualifying due to heavy rain on Saturday.
"It would have given those people who aren't in the best car another chance to prove themselves," he remarked. "Safety is, of course, a priority, but these are the best drivers in the world.
"If it's slippery in one place, you just have to take your foot off the gas."
The Brazilian GP weekend did see a significant number of spins and crashes, which some blamed on Pirelli's wet-weather tyres and the freshly resurfaced, oily, and bumpy track.
"Sometimes they were just simple driving errors," Stuck argued. "For me, incidents like that show that they are pushing themselves to the limit. With these cars, it's a ride on a razor's edge.
"I think it's great that the drivers are still pushing themselves to the limit."
