- Japanese GP - Race
F1 must learn from Japanese GP - Vettel
Sebastian Vettel says it was impossible to predict an accident like Jules Bianchi's at the Japanese Grand Prix but Formula One must learn from it.
Bianchi suffered severe head injuries and is undergoing surgery after crashing into a recovery vehicle during the closing stages of Sunday's race. The accident happened as rain intensified and Bianchi went off at the same corner as Adrian Sutil a lap earlier.
There were suggestions ahead of the race that the start time could be shifted earlier in order to avoid the worst of the weather associated with Typhoon Phanfone. However, the race took place at its normal time, which coincided with heavy rain at the start before a drier period and more rain towards the end.
Vettel made reference to the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji, which was the title showdown and took place in appalling conditions in order to be televised around the world.
"Trying to move the start time... people failed in 1976 and they still fail today," he said. "It's obviously the pressure from TV, from media, which doesn't allow that but I think given the circumstances race direction did what they could.
"To have an accident like that is impossible to predict. For sure it happened and it must be something we learn from so that we avoid something like this happening again. For now this is not important, we are all thinking about Jules."
Vettel said conditions were difficult at Turn 7 towards the end of the race as rain hit while the majority of drivers were on intermediate tyres.
"It's one of the most tricky places in cornering and a part where you pick up speed which is very tricky in these conditions as I said. There are pools of water, the car is very nervous, and very very easy to make a mistake.
"The conditions were very tricky. It's not really essential to talk about racing now but it was tricky when the rain picked up on used tyres it was always going to be very, very difficult. From what we know it was very unlucky timing and an unlucky position to lose the car which led to the accident. Our thoughts are with him. I think all the drivers can know how it feels because it was very tricky today. We hope for very very good news about Jules very soon."
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