Pérez’s accident, Alonso points to the aerodynamics of the single-seaters

The double Spanish world champion believes that the extreme aerodynamics of the 2011 cars may have played a role in the accident that Sergio Pérez suffered during the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying.

Following this impressive accident, some people are calling for changes to this part of the circuit for next season. This is the case, for example, with Nico Rosberg.

It would be easy to move the barrier out of the way and set it back by 50 meters or something like that. I think it’s time to do something, explained the German driver, who also had a violent crash at the same spot.

For Fernando Alonso, the position of the safety barrier is not the only problem; we must also look at the behavior of the single-seaters this year.

Questioned about his opinion on the possible reasons for these accidents, the Spaniard admits he does not know. “I really don’t know, I don’t have the exact answer but there is a bump at that spot, in the braking zone, which doesn’t help,” explains the Ferrari driver.

« It’s a combination of many things, the weak grip we have with the new rules, and this year the car aerodynamics are going in an extreme direction with the blown diffuser and the exhausts. That’s how it is, unfortunately.

If Fernando Alonso points to the design of the single-seaters as a factor to consider in explaining the accident of Pérez and Rosberg, Ross Brawn believes that the blown diffuser is not to blame.

I wouldn’t say there’s evidence concerning the blown diffuser. I think it’s just a very tricky part of the circuit. You have high lateral load and it’s bumpy. If you’re at the limit in terms of grip, then that’s the consequence. Normally we are comfortable there, but in Nico’s accident, the tires were cold, he had a lot of fuel on board, the car was bouncing, and it made it tricky, so it’s just a very tough part of the circuit, says the Team Principal of Mercedes GP.

For his part, Jacky Ickx, former director of the Monaco event, stated on Belgian television that the Grand Prix management would take this weekend’s incidents into account to improve safety in that area of the circuit.