Three veteran Formula 1 drivers have criticised the FIA for how it managed the Sergio Perez-Carlos Sainz crash in the closing moments of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Given the severity of the collision on the narrow streets of Baku, many were taken aback that race control didn't immediately display the red flag.
"I'm surprised," admitted Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.
"Huge crash, debris scattered everywhere like a war zone. There was a double yellow flag, and then suddenly green again, which really caught me off guard. I lost a few positions because of it," he explained.
"I also hit something big and wasn't sure what had happened to my front wing. Yeah, very surreal final two laps," Hulkenberg added.
Mercedes driver George Russell, who is also a senior director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, raised questions about the FIA's decision to issue a virtual safety car.
"Full gas into a wall of carbon fibre on the penultimate lap," he said when asked to recall the standout moment from his race in Baku.
"I mean, that was pretty crazy," Russell remarked.
"The sun was coming down. You couldn't see anything. I was shocked the safety car or VSC didn't come out sooner. You know, the cars could have been anywhere. So, glad to see everybody was ok," Russell said.
Max Verstappen, a triple world champion, hinted that some may believe the sport prioritised the spectacle of the race over safety measures like a safety car or red flag.
"That should have been a safety car straight away," said the Red Bull driver.
"I don't understand this at all. Two cars had just crashed into the wall at high speed. I don't understand why it took them (race officials) so long. Then they wave double yellow flags. Just send out the safety car!" Verstappen exclaimed.
"Nothing more is going to happen anyway, and the whole track is full of junk and parts. Why do we get a virtual safety car then?" he asked.
