Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr has argued that the Japanese Grand Prix officials should have utilised a Formula 1 rolling start and not the traditional standing one used. In heavy rain at Suzuka, the race began with the cars lining up on the grid as is normal, with the only Turn 1 incident of note being Sebastian Vettel spun around after contact with Fernando Alonso in blinding spray. Later around the opening tour, Sainz aquaplaned on the run to Spoon corner while chasing Sergio Perez's Red Bull - crashing into the inside barrier and narrowly avoiding bouncing back onto the racing line where cars blinded by spray would not have seen the Ferrari. After the DNF - his fifth of the campaign - Sainz was critical of the decision to have a standing start, believing the conditions were not acceptable.
Sainz on rolling start
"It was maybe that the best [solution] would have been a rolling start on extreme [Wet tyres] but anyway it was going to get worse, just to avoid any dangerous situation," Sainz told media. "But then they call us: 'If we start in a rolling start on extreme [Wets] everyone complains that Formula 1 doesn't race in the wet. "But when you see the situation, basically we're driving without visibility. So how can you drive a Formula 1 car at 300 kph - (186mph) without visibility?"
Hitting a tractor would have "been it"
Pierre Gasly was penalised by the stewards for speeding under the red flags as he passed the tractor sent out to recover Sainz - but the Ferrari driver has some sympathy for the Frenchman. "I don't know if people understand but even behind Safety Car, we are going at 100-150 kph and still at those speeds we don't see nothing, even behind the Safety Car," Sainz added. "So if one driver decides to get up out of the racing line and or has a small aquaplaning or has to change the switch on the steering wheel and gets a bit out of line and hits a tractor, it's over. "I still don't know why we keep in these conditions risking having a tractor on track because it's just worthless. "You were going to red flag it anyway, so why take the risk?"
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