Petrov: Mugello too dangerous for modern F1 cars
Vitaly Petrov was delighted to return to Mugello this week, but the Russian driver believes the track is not safe enough to host F1 cars during a Grand Prix.
Following the return of Formula 1 to the Mugello circuit this week, several drivers expressed their delight with the Italian track – including Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, and Michael Schumacher. The circuit director even mentioned possible work to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
But not all drivers agree, including Vitaly Petrov. The Russian driver from the Caterham F1 team believes that the Mugello circuit, which has been in its current form since 1974, is not suited to modern F1 cars: « I have fond memories of Mugello because it’s where I won in F3000, so coming back was pleasant. I’m not certain the circuit is suited to today’s F1 cars – you’re very close to the walls and it might be a bit small for the cars now, but it’s still a real challenge to be able to do a fast lap here. »
Petrov further estimates, as quoted by Auto Bild, that in case of a driver’s error or a problem with the car, the absence of runoff areas and the proximity of tire walls could lead to severe off-track incidents: « Some drivers don’t think it’s wise to conduct tests here (in Mugello) and I agree because it’s a dangerous track with very few runoff zones. The walls are really close, and if you miss the line in one of the fast chicanes, you’ll have a big crash. […] The track is too narrow for my liking. Even a small issue with the car, like a loss of pressure, will lead to a major accident. »
