What the FIA’s Suzuka report found, and why Gasly doesn’t care it called him “reckless” · RaceFans

The FIA published a detailed report from their investigation into an incident during this month’s Japanese Grand Prix, when a crane was deployed on the race track during the rain-hit race.

Recovery vehicles are a common sight during grands prix as they are regularly used to clear crashed or retired cars from the circuit. However, the circumstances at Suzuka prompted a furious reaction from drivers and team principals.

While many of the main details of the incident were already known, the FIA’s report – overseen by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s deputy president, Robert Reid – has revealed new information about the incident as well as outlining what the FIA plans to change to avoid similar situations in the future.

The incident

The Japanese Grand Prix was scheduled to start at 2pm local time on Sunday 9th October. Heavy rain had fallen over Mie prefecture across the weekend, affecting Friday’s practice sessions before returning on Sunday.

Despite heavily wet conditions having prompted FIA race director Eduardo Freitas to delay the start of the Monaco Grand Prix held earlier in the season, the Japanese Grand Prix began at its scheduled time, with the field of 19 cars taking the start of the race on intermediate tyres, as opposed to extreme wet tyres. Pierre Gasly also started the race on intermediate tyres, but from the pit lane.

On the opening lap, fourth-placed driver Carlos Sainz Jnr lost control of his Ferrari through the fast shallow right-hander of turn 12 and spun into the barriers, which dislodged an advertising hoarding and caused race-ending damage to the Ferrari, which was bounced back onto the outside of the race track. A yellow flag was deployed, with Gasly warned over the radio that Sainz had crashed exiting the previous corner.

As Gasly passed Sainz’s crashed Ferrari in the poor visibility, he collected the loose advertising board on the front of his car. Seconds later, the Safety Car was deployed. Alexander Albon – who had also suffered damaged in an earlier clash – then pulled off the track to retire, meaning two cars needed to be cleared from the circuit around 200 metres apart.

Gasly recovered to the pit lane with the board still on his car. As the board blocked his vision, he greatly reduced his speed, meaning that he was positive on his minimum lap time delta by 18 seconds when he entered the pit lane. As he received repairs, marshals were given permission to join the track and attend to…