George Russell and Carlos Sainz say they have been impressed by FIA’s new Formulation 1 race director Rui Marques after he swiftly carried out the modifications they urged within the drivers’ briefing.
Their feedback comply with the earlier incumbent, Niels Wittich, being inexplicably axed after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, resulting in issues over an inexperienced Marques overseeing the ultimate three races of the 2024 season.
Nonetheless, after assembly former F2 and F3 race director Marques for the primary time on Thursday night time on the Las Vegas Grand Prix, each Mercedes’ Russell and Ferrari’s Sainz say he has listened to the drivers and made optimistic modifications.
Russell, who certified on pole was requested by Autosport/Motorsport.com what he had made from Marques following the drivers’ briefing.
He mentioned: “Constructive, to be sincere. We’ve been by way of a little bit little bit of an period the place our feedback are taken on board, however little or no change occurs.
“For instance, a variety of drivers spoke concerning the observe limits at flip 4. We felt it was a little bit bit pointless on a avenue circuit and he made a change to it within the second.
“That’s what we wish to see as drivers, all of us wish to be heard and we wish to see motion taken straightaway, up to now it has been optimistic.”
Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA
Photograph by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Photos
Sainz agreed and illustrated one other change that Marques had carried out in a single day following his assembly with the F1 drivers.
Sainz, who will begin Sunday’s race in second, mentioned: “He has been given a large job to come back right into a season with three races left and being a race director is such an advanced position in Formulation 1.
“You’ve so many variables to manage that I feel he has been given a really tough job, however truthfully from the primary weekend, straight from the go he has been actually good.
“The drivers’ briefings yesterday was among the best we’ve got had in a very long time.
“George commented on the exit of flip three, I’d say we additionally requested for some modifications on the pit entry to make the road extra seen as a result of we actually couldn’t see the pit entry line and we have been very anxious about that.
“At present, we turned as much as the observe and the pit entry line was widened with a blue line and we have been all saying this was very nice as a result of they did a really good change and with an excellent strategy and the best way have been listened to yesterday was a really optimistic assembly and I’m very inspired by that.”
Images from Las Vegas GP Apply & Qualifying
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