Verstappen on Eau Rouge: 'The problem is the tyre stacks'

In recent weeks there has been much discussion about the Eau Rouge corner at Spa-Francorchamps. Due to several dangerous crashes in a short period of time the question is raised if the corner is still safe enough.

On Friday, there was a violent crash during the W Series, where six drivers were involved. Yesterday, Lando Norris had another crash during qualifying. A month ago, during the 24 Hours of Spa, several cars crashed into each other. In all these cases at least one driver had to be taken to hospital.

Verstappen gives his opinion

With the fatal accident of Anthoine Hubert fresh in our memory, there are more and more noises from drivers that adjustments are necessary. Changes are already planned for later this year. "I think the changes I saw this weekend that will be implemented at the end of the year look very good," Max Verstappen is quoted by the Dutch website of Motorsport.com.

"It's a very fast corner, of course. If you go through it, everything is fine. But the problem is that the tyre stacks are quite close to the track, so a car that hits the tyre stacks can easily bounce back onto the track and end up on the ideal line, whereupon it can be hit by another car. If it happens a little further down the corner and you go over the top of the hill, you also have the added problem that no one can see you. I think that was also the problem at the Spa 24 Hours, when several cars collided as well."

Plans for Eau Rouge

The 2022 plans are to move the tyre stacks further back to create a wider run-off area. There will also be a gravel pit at Raidillon. "I think the improvements that will be done will make it a lot better. It will never be completely safe, everybody knows that. But there are some things that can be done at that corner that can make it safer. And those things are being done, so I think it will be a lot better," Verstappen said.