Monaco Grand Prix: Jenson Button hits out at safety following Sergio Perez's horrific crash
Jenson Button reacted to Sergio Perez’s heavy crash in qualifying for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix by saying it was a “pity” it took such incidents to spur improvements in safety to the famous street circuit.
Critical: Jenson Button (right) with Red Bull drivers Mark Webber (left) and Sebastian Vettel (centre) Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Tom Cary,, F1 Correspondent in Monaco 6:56PM BST 28 May 2011
Perez was taken to Princesse Grace hospital after his 130mph crash into the safety barriers at the Chicane during qualifying on Saturday.
Sauber’s Mexican rookie escaped with concussion and a sprained thigh but will definitely not race on Sunday as he is kept under observation.
On a day when Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg was lucky to walk away from a similar accident, safety was uppermost in drivers’ minds.
For Button, both incidents prompted memories of his crash at the same spot eight years ago which also left him with concussion and out of the race.
David Coulthard also had a memorable accident after losing control at one of the fastest, bumpiest points of the track - a downhill stretch following the exit to the tunnel - while many recalled Karl Wendlinger’s near fatal crash there in 1994, just days after Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger had been killed.
Wendlinger recovered after being placed in an induced coma although his career never did. Former team owner Eddie Jordan believes organisers should now look at that section of the track.
“It’s a tough place to crash,” agreed Button, who will start Sunday’s race from second on the grid.
“Safety has improved a little bit but there’s more work needed. If you have an issue there you are a passenger.
“It’s downhill, it’s bumpy, you lock the rear wheels and you’re in the sidewall.
"You then lose wheels, which loses the braking and you’re running on the car’s belly.
“You’re a sled and the car always aims straight for the barrier. You come off the wall and it pushes you in that direction.”
“Wendlinger had a horrific accident there. When I had my accident they moved the barrier back but we need to take action now and make a big push.
"We love racing and this is a special place but there’s no reason we can’t help safety in that area. “We’ll see what we can do. It’s not over yet.
"We need to look to see what has to be done for the future.”
Button added that his start on Sunday would be crucial to his chances of repeating his memorable win in 2009 after which he parked his car in the wrong place and ran down the start-finish straight to collect his trophy.
“We still have a very good chance of victory here,” Button said. “I need to get a good start and that side [of the grid] a bit tricky because it’s a bit off camber.”
“If I win I’m still parking it in the wrong place and running down the pit lane even if I get told off. That way you can enjoy it with everyone.”
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