F1: Gasly came close to disaster

The 2022 Japanese Grand Prix was severely disrupted by dire weather conditions which led to the delay in the start of the race following Carlos Sainz’s crash. Problem, the red flag had been waved too late and Pierre Gasly had narrowly missed hitting a tow truck on the track.

The Formula 1 is a dangerous sport, even more so when the track is wet. Last year, Suzuka, Pierre Gasly had a pretty satisfying weekend since Alpine had formalized its signing, putting an end to recurring questions about its future. But in the race, the Rouennais could have lost everything. In the pouring rain, Carlos Sainz had lost control of his car. There FIA had then dispatched a crane to the scene of the accident but several pilots were still on the track, including Pierre Gasly. The latter came out of the pits at low speed, and very fortunately. To his great surprise, he saw right in front of him, at the last moment due to visibility reduced by the weather conditions, the famous crane in question in the middle of the track. The tragedy was narrowly avoided.

A tractor on the track as Pierre Gasly passes. Images that we never thought we would see again in F1. #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/BD5jHHrRqN

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) October 9, 2022

“I could have been fucking killed!”

Pierre Gasly was passing through the pits after receiving an advertising sign on his car. And when coming out of this same pit lane, he came face to face with the tow truck. “ My God – what is this? – what is this tractor? What is this tractor on the track? I missed it, like… It’s intolerable! What happened ? I can not believe it… “, he cursed on his radio. When he arrived at the garage, he was just as furious. “ I could have been fucking killed! », he got carried away. A scene reminiscent of the tragic accident of Jules Bianchi on the same circuit and for the same reasons. The father of the deceased, Philippe Bianchihad expressed his anger.

“Very shocked to see such incompetence”

« When you put up a red flag, there is no urgency to send cranes onto the track, especially with what happened on this circuit for Jules. I’m not watching this Grand Prix, I saw what was happening on the networks. I make no secret of being very shocked to see such incompetence. », had written Philippe Bianchi to the journalist of Canal+ Julien Fébreau. An incident fortunately without consequences for Pierre Gaslybut what a fear…