In previous years, drivers overshooting Turn 1 could return to the track beyond Turn 2 and blend into traffic relatively safely.
However, for this year’s GP weekend, the FIA extended the end of the barrier to stop cars that were out of control, potentially due to mechanical failures, from spearing across into traffic that was exiting Turn 2.
As a result of the change, drivers who ran wide had a choice of either bouncing across the grass, going around the new barrier and taking a hard turn to the right onto the track, or in effect doing a U-turn in the run-off, heading back towards the traffic, and then turning right onto the track.
Both options were used on Friday and in the evening’s drivers briefing the subject was discussed at length, with Lewis Hamilton apparently pointing out that he’d never seen a car have the type of accident that the barrier extension was designed to prevent.
A removal of the new section was discussed but the barrier remained in place for Saturday’s track action, when there were more incidents at the corner.
However it has been adjusted for Sunday, with the final 4m removed to make it easier for drivers to rejoin the track safely and further up the track from Turn 2.
“The [original] change was done to avoid the possibility of a car going off at T1 and coming across the exit of T2 at speed and potentially t-boning another car,” an FIA spokesperson told Autosport.
“Following discussion with the drivers we are making the change to allow them to rejoin more easily and will refine this solution further for future events.”
Source: Autosport