During his drive in Senna’s McLaren MP4/8, Sebastian Vettel discusses the evolution of safety since then – His opinion of the Halo has changed
The demo run in one of Ayrton Senna’s Formula 1 cars was not only an emotional experience for Sebastian Vettel in Imola, but also a special driving experience. The German was allowed behind the wheel of the 1993 McLaren MP4/8 and raved: “Mega, the car is so much fun. They are such beautiful cars. “
However, one thing also became clear: a lot has happened since then in terms of safety – fortunately. “The accident, and especially the weekend, was also good in the sense that it really pushed safety forward once again.”
“Michael was extremely committed afterwards with the drivers’ association to really tackling the issue and pushing more for it,” says the German.
The deaths of Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in Imola raised many questions about safety. “Which has had a lot of positive effects for future generations like us. Nevertheless, it will be remembered as a very dark and tragic weekend,” said Vettel.
Goosebumps moment in Imola
Sky expert Timo Glock remembers: “I remember where I was. I was at home with my parents, sat in front of the TV and watched it live. I was twelve years old at the time. Of course I registered what was happening, but you forget something like that pretty quickly over time.”
“And when you experience it again in the way Sebastian conveyed it with those words, you get goosebumps,” he comments on Vettel’s tribute.
The four-time world champion explains: “My motivation was that, at the end of the day, he (Senna) was one of us that we never had the chance to get to know. You don’t need to discuss it too much: He was one of the very greatest ever in the short time he had.”
And it was precisely at this time that there were no cockpit elevations, no headrest, as is standard today. “The shoulders were free, the head was free,” says Glock. And Vettel adds: “If you compare that with today, it’s a huge leap. “
Vettel draws comparison with today’s cars
“There’s a lot less to the car (from back then). The cockpits were already made of carbon and were quite stable, but the strength is a child’s birthday party compared to today. The cars today are built much more solidly, including the crash structure on the side box, even for an impact from the front,” explains Vettel.
“Today, the nose is very, very regulated so that if an accident occurs, it also fulfills its purpose. The tracks have become extremely safe. The corner here where it happened has been made safer. After that, there were many, many developments. “
“Halo came along and a lot of people felt put off by it at first and said: ‘It’s in our way, you can’t see anything. Many, many skeptics. I myself wasn’t convinced aesthetically either,” he admits, “but at the time, the FIA had presented to us which accidents fell into the category and why it was better.”
There have also been other developments over the years, from the drivers’ helmets to their fireproof clothing. “A great deal has been done,” says Glock.
Vettel: The weight of F1 cars must be reduced
“That’s why it’s important to continue to have the drive to make the cars safer today,” warns Vettel. “Maybe just for case X, which happens very, very rarely.” One concern is particularly important to him: “In my opinion, the weight of the cars is what needs to go down, also for safety.”
“It’s a completely different feeling when you have an accident in a light car than in a heavy one. But yes, it’s always a balance,” says the Formula 1 driver, who will retire in 2022. “The cars today are also heavier, precisely because they are safer.”
“We’ve talked about the crash structure, the sidepods, the nose, the rear. But I believe that safety should never be called into question,” warns Vettel.
“The halo is one of the heaviest parts that have been added in recent years. It’s in an unfavorable place from a driving dynamics point of view because it’s relatively high up. But that doesn’t matter, because I think it has proven its purpose more than once. “
