“Don’t Continue Trying to Make F1 Completely Safe Because People Will Lose Interest”: In the Light of Japanese GP Havoc, Champion Niki Lauda’s Words Deserve a Quick Revisit

Waiting for the race to restart after Carlos Sainz’s crash got the fans frustrated. The delay continued for way too long after the rain intensified and the FIA waited for the weather to become more race-friendly. While the safety of drivers is important, the delays take the fun away from the otherwise thrilling sport. Something Niki Lauda highlighted in 2017.

Formula 1 has over the years introduced regulations to ensure drivers’ safety. From big changes like introducing Halo to minute manufacturing tweaks like gloves with better fire-resistant qualities, the sport has become come a long way. The legend of the sport, Niki Lauda, however, was not a fan of making it too safe.

Niki Lauda believed safety can kill the thrill of F1

When one says vintage Formula 1, one of the first names that come to mind is Niki Lauda. The man, the myth, the legend had 3 world titles to his name. However, what defined his love for the sport was his comeback after suffering severe burns after a horrific crash.

He came back after just 6 weeks of the incident to race and fight for the title, which he eventually lost by a single point to James Hunt. Despite going through a life-altering crash himself, Lauda was possibly not a fan of too many safety measures being introduced in the sport.

He spoke on the issue on the show In Depth with Graham Bensinger in 2017. On the changes he wanted to see in Formula 1, Lauda said, “Don’t continue trying to make Formula 1 completely safe, because people will lose interest in the end.”

He continued, “people sometimes like to see accidents, to see where the limits are. But as long as he’s able to get out safe, I think this is what we have to achieve. If we go too far, I think the Formula 1 destroys itself.”

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Lauda spoke about how Formula 1 drivers today have it “much easier”. He said that today drivers arrive at races with their wives and kids and their dog. Niki told that during his time, they were always alone as they did not want their wives to come to the race and take them away in a coffin.

How the restart delay killed the fun in today’s Japanese GP

Carlos Sainz spun in the very first lap on a wet track and crashed into the barriers. The incident prompted FIA to deploy the safety car. Eventually, they realized it would not be possible to retrieve Sainz’s car without a recovery vehicle and red-flagged the race.

Subsequently, the race was suspended as the rain intensified and it took way too long to restart the race. The race restarted with almost 45 minutes left on the clock with the safety car in the lead.

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The shortened race spoiled the fun for the fans. Moreover, the best moment of the race, Vettel, and Alonso finishing wheel to wheel with Vettel taking the P6 with the slightest of margins, was not shown live.