2023-10-09 09:42:11
Feelings of powerlessness
“Handing over for two laps” – heat drama involving Formula 1 stars
World champion Max Verstappen won the Qatar GP. The extreme conditions for the drivers caused discussions.
Published9. October 2023, 11:42
It wasn’t just this crash between the two Mercedes stars Lewis Hamilton and George Russell that was talked regarding in Qatar.
SRF
The Qatar Grand Prix took place on Sunday.
The race developed into a heated battle.
Several drivers criticized the conditions, saying they suffered during the race.
The weather conditions at the Qatar Grand Prix were extreme. Although the race only started on Sunday at 8 p.m. local time, the conditions at the Lusail International Circuit were terrible, with air temperatures of up to 33 degrees and humidity of 73 percent. The GP was a heated battle. Ferrari star Charles Leclerc said following the race: “This was the hardest race of every driver’s career. Without exception.”
Williams driver Logan Sargeant radioed halfway through the race: “Let’s keep going. Even if I feel like I’m going to puke.” His race engineer then wanted to know from him: “Can you continue?” Answer Sargeant: “Yes, I can handle it.” Then team boss James Vowles intervened: “Logan, you fought bravely, but come in now and we give up. Let us take care of you.”
Esteban Ocon had big problems during the race in Qatar.
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Lance Stroll stated that he almost fainted.
Getty Images
As a result, calls for changes became louder – particularly with a view to the Qatar GP next season. Charles Leclerc, for example, demanded that the number of laps be reduced.
Getty Images
Lance Stroll almost fainted
The young F1 driver didn’t want to know anything regarding it at first – and fought. But on lap 41 he mightn’t do it anymore and reported via radio: “I’m not feeling well.” His race engineer responded: “If you feel uncomfortable, then we’ll stop.” Williams later announced that Sargeant had stopped due to “severe dehydration, weakened by flu-like symptoms earlier in the week.” TV images showed the 22-year-old American barely able to get out of the car.
Alpine rider Esteban Ocon also fared very poorly, although he finished seventh. He told opposite «Racing News 365»: «In lap 16 I was already feeling sick. Then I vomited in the cockpit for two laps.” He just thought: “Shit, this is going to be a long race.” For some reason there was no air in the car. He demanded that his team conduct an investigation into this. He also says: “It was the hardest race of my career.”
Sargeant and Ocon were far from the only drivers who had problems and complained regarding the heat. During the GP, Fernando Alonso asked his mechanics to pour water over his overalls because his seat felt like it was “burning”. Alfa Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas described the race as “torture”. Lance Stroll told Racing News 365 that he almost fainted at over 300 km/h. Several pilots were taken to the medical center for examination following the race.
Drivers demand change
As a result, calls for changes became louder – especially with regard to the GP in Qatar next season, which will, however, take place at the end of November 2024 and no longer at the beginning of October. Charles Leclerc, for example, demanded that the number of laps be reduced. His explanation: “If you looked into some of the drivers’ eyes following the race, you might see that some of them didn’t feel good at all.” According to the Ferrari star, the muscles are not the problem, but rather the dehydration.
George Russell agreed: “It was, in my opinion, beyond the limits of what was acceptable for driving.” He almost fainted following just twelve laps. “You don’t want that when you’re driving at over 300 km/h,” said the Mercedes star, who still fought his way to fourth place. If it had gotten any hotter, he would probably have given up.
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