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Grand Prix Drivers Association directors Sebastian Vettel and George Russell want the FIA to stop using sausage kerbs to avoid drivers suffering “broken backs” and “potential life-changing injuries”.
At the recent United States Grand Prix, a late change was made to the track on Sunday when the sausage kerb on the exit of Turn 1 was removed.
It came after incidents in two different support races when W Series driver Abbie Eaton and US Formula 4 racer Christian Weir suffered compression fractures after hitting the sausage kerb and being launched airborne.
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In the grand prix it led to a track-limits issue between Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen that prompted debate over the distinction between a driver forcing another off the track and a driver leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
But four-time world champion Vettel said: “We had two injuries that were unnecessary.
“I’d rather have an endless conversation about track limits, and maybe one time you’re happy, maybe another, you’re unhappy – we can find solutions to that.
“But the main thing is we find a solution to broken backs, which is taking out these sausage kerbs.”
The week after the US GP, the Formula Regional European series finale was marred by an incident between the two drivers battling for the lead, when David Vidales and Dino Beganovic ran wide at the second chicane at Monza.
Vidales kept accelerating over the run-off and hit a sausage kerb as he rejoined, which launched the car into the air – and hit Beganovic’s car after landing, although both drivers avoided injury.
Two years ago at Monza, Formula 3 racer Alexander Peroni suffered a fractured vertebra after striking a sausage kerb in the run-off area at Parabolica and was spectacularly launched into a massive accident.
Russell said: “It’s something that the FIA and F1 really needs to look into, because we saw another pretty dangerous incident in the Formula Regional at Monza.
“It’s something the GPDA are pushing hard with the FIA to make improvements because I don’t know what the exact injuries of these drivers was, but I believe somebody fractured their back, and this is unacceptable, from such a simple off.”
Adding to Vettel’s comments about endless track limits conversations being better than serious injuries, Russell said: “Yeah, exactly, we want to live in a perfect world but unfortunately that doesn’t exist.
“The kerbs are put there to limit track limits but if it comes at the expense of injuries, potential life-changing injuries, then that’s unacceptable.
“There needs to be better solutions. Not even a better compromise, just a solution that is not dangerous. But it’s never easy.”
