Max Verstappen demands major F1 change after 'very dangerous' crash

Max Verstappen has demanded F1 make changes to its energy rules following Oliver Bearman's huge crash in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Bearman sustained a 50G impact at Suzuka after being caught out by Franco Colapinto's Alpine harvesting energy as Bearman deployed the batteries in his Haas, and was seen to be limping away after climbing from the car.

The closing speeds involved in the accident were around 45kph - 29.7mph. 

Fortunately, after an X-ray at the medical centre, he was cleared of serious injury, with no fractures, and only a contusion on his right knee. 

Fears of such a crash occurring had been raised by drivers owing to the huge closing speeds created by one car harvesting and another behind deploying energy, with four-time world champion Verstappen, who finished the grand prix in eighth for Red Bull, believing that if changes are to be made on safety grounds, then it should be "easy" to do so.

"That is basically what you get with these things, I mean, one guy is completely stuck with no power, and then the other one uses the mushroom bolt," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.

"It can be a 50-60 kilometres per hour difference, it is really, really big. 

"I had a few moments, but I boosted past very heavily, and I was already committed to one side.

"It can be very, very dangerous, it looks like moving in the braking zone or moving in general. 

"But it also happens when you have that quick acceleration, and you can have a big crash.

"If it is all about safety, then it is easy to fix things. You can use 'safety' for a lot of stuff, so maybe we should use the word 'safety' for it, and finally make some changes."