Stopped starts: Rosberg and Ricciardo against, Alonso with no preference

Main novelty announced at the end of the World Motor Sport Council held this Thursday, June 26, in Munich, is the introduction, in 2015, of standing starts after each safety car intervention. This has generated a lot of discussion; some drivers have already shared their opinions on the matter.

Thus, in 2015, each intervention of the safety car could potentially lead to a new standing start after the track is cleared. However, some restrictions will be implemented: there will be no new standing start if the safety car intervenes in the first two laps of the race (or in the two laps following a new standing start), nor if there are only five laps remaining before the checkered flag. This is a way to avoid multiplying situations that could potentially be subject to risks.

Rosberg and Ricciardo, clearly against

The current leader of the F1 World Championship, Nico Rosberg, remains very doubtful about this regulatory novelty that he would prefer not to be applied: « I understand that the start is one of the most exciting moments for fans, but it seems very extreme and I hope it wouldn’t be done. It’s going too far. »

« I love pure racing the way it has been practiced over the last 50 years. I really don’t want to see such a huge change by making another start. It’s a bit strange. My natural opinion, right now, is that it should stay as it is now, » he explains to Sky Sports.

As for Daniel Ricciardo, recent winner of the Canadian Grand Prix with Red Bull, the feeling is the same: « I imagine it’s a bit more exciting because there’s a bit more uncertainty with the standing starts. But, for me, it’s a bit too artificial because if you are leading the race by 10 seconds and the Safety Car comes out, then you lose the advantage you’ve built. You keep your position, but you still lose something. »

He believes that a standing start represents a form of unfairness for the driver who had a significant lead before the safety car’s entry: « If there is a standing start, the chance of not getting a good start is very high, so you can drop from first to fourth place. It’s just a bit disadvantageous for someone who initially captured the lead. »

« I think they could find something better. Now, the rolling starts are not too bad; at least, it brings everyone closer together. I don’t think it’s that bad as it is. For the spectators, a standing start would be better, but it’s probably not the fairest idea, » he concluded.

Hamilton wants to work in concert with the officials

For Lewis Hamilton, the announcement of this new rule is a revelation: « It’s the first time I’ve heard of it, so I think I really need some time to think about it. »

Without giving his opinion, the Briton believes that such decisions should be made with the advice of the drivers, the main parties concerned in most situations: « Ultimately, it can’t hurt to have the drivers’ opinions on certain things and, obviously, to involve us because we are in the car. »

« It is impossible for us to say how things are for the stewards in their office. We are not stewards and we don’t sit there during the race. And it is impossible for them, in the office, to see how it is for us in the car. We should really try to work together, » he suggests, before adding: « They always propose cool ideas. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. »

Alonso has no preference

Fernando Alonso explains that he has experienced both types of functioning at each stage of his career in motorsport: « When I arrived in single-seaters, the restarts were as they are now and I have no idea what they could be if they were different. In karting, when there was a red flag or something else, we had a normal start with lights. »

His opinion is therefore not clear-cut on the issue: « I’ve done both and it makes no difference, I think, in my view. I have no preference. »