Formula 1 drivers WhatsApp group outraged by Monza changes

A private WhatsApp group for Formula 1 drivers saw a lively debate unfold on Thursday in the midst of racing. disappointment over changes at MonzaWhen the modifications made to the piano of the historic Italian racetrack became known, The pilots agreed among themselves that the new designs were a step backwards.

But perhaps what worried them most was that They were not consulted about this through the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA).so they had no influence on what was done.

Instead of, Those responsible for the Italian track have decided to make some changes to the historic layout themselves, which seem to completely change the character of the track.and not for the better, according to the pilots.

President of GPDA, Alex Wurtzconfirmed that there had been discussions in the pilots’ WhatsApp group on Thursday and that there was widespread agreement that Most of the problems that Monza presents have disappeared.

“Yes, we discussed the changes in our WhatsApp group today,” he told Motorsport.com. “And although I didn’t drive with the new pianos at Monza, The old kerb situation at corners like Ascari meant that drivers had to work very precisely.“.

“As a circuit designer, I wouldn’t charge money to replace these pianos. They didn’t seem dangerous to me and became part of the character of the track.. Okay, it’s the same for everyone, but this isn’t the first track to lose character when driving onto standard curbs. The same thing happened in Brazil, where they had their own tricks with the piano.”

What Drivers Don’t Like About the New Monza Pianos

Although Monza’s high kerbs have caused controversy and incidents in the past, drivers have agreed that replacing them with flatter ones is not the best solution. This is because the previous curbs had their own character.which made the Ascari chicane particularly challenging.

“It’s hard to explain, but the unique piano that Monza designed meant that just a few millimetres of difference in the car’s attitude would result in understeer or oversteer.“Because the little ditch that drains the water either catches the front wheel or it doesn’t,” Wurz continued. “As a driver, you play with that and it was great to get that. “It suited the Monza track because of its style, its character and its unique nature.”

Mercedes driver, George Russellsaid: “The Ascari piano used to be unique in Monza. It had a kind of drain that went down about 10 centimetres and then went back up again, and you could pass the inner wheel through these drains. It always made for iconic photographs. . Cars were seen spinning on turns and the inside wheel getting stuck in the gutter. Now they are completely flat and will give drivers the ability to cut the turn.“.

Lack of consultation with Formula 1 drivers over changes at Monza.

In addition to the fact that drivers are unhappy with the changes, there is also some discomfort due to the fact that they were not consulted to provide any inputRussell felt that the lack of information on this matter was a disgrace to everyone at the Circus Maximus.

“We’ve talked about this several times in the past: the drivers are usually the last to know when changes are made on the track,” he explained.To be honest, I don’t know who makes these decisions. I don’t think it’s the FIA. I think it’s the circuits themselves.“I think we have to understand that the tracks are designed for a whole season and for a lot of different categories, but we have always said that these old-school tracks with incredible character need to be preserved.”

Daniel Ricciardo added: “The change we were asked about regarding Montreal was wonderful. And we were all very flattered after Canada because they had renovated it and left the piano.. In Montreal, if they put up flat curbs, I guarantee none of us would be smiling like we usually do. So it’s really changing. It still feels like a lot of things are slipping through our fingers and we’re not speaking up. We don’t need the prevailing opinion, but at least let us have our opinion and maybe we can save you some money.“.

Wurz said drivers were always willing to give their views on the design or modifications to the layout: “The GPDA would be happy to hear the views of the FIA ​​and Formula 1 track owners before changes are made. In this case, we could save both assets and money.“, he concluded.

Additional reporting by Mark Mann-Bryans and Alex Kalinauckas