P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Norris: F1 Qatar GP was “too dangerous” for drivers
During the Qatar Grand Prix, several drivers faced extreme physical challenges, with Esteban Ocon getting sick in his helmet and Logan Sargeant retiring due to heatstroke. The high-speed venue combined with mandatory short tyre stints pushed the drivers to their limits. Lando Norris believes that F1 went too far in what it expected the drivers to endure and finds it sad that they had to reach this point. He emphasizes that it’s not a matter of the drivers needing to train more, but rather the closed car becoming excessively hot in such a physically demanding race. Norris believes that the dangerous conditions should have been avoided and hopes for changes to prevent this from happening again. Max Verstappen, the race winner, also agrees that the issues were not due to lack of fitness but were solely caused by the extreme weather conditions. He suggests that other races with similar conditions, like Singapore, should also be evaluated for safety. The next Qatar Grand Prix will take place in December 2024, with improved weather conditions. However, Verstappen believes that there are still many issues to discuss and evaluate following the tyre problems and challenges faced during the weekend.
Source: motorsport
