Albon frustrated by ‘weak’ image of F1 drivers due to lack of rain races

The Belgian Grand Prix was delayed by an hour and a half due to rain. The race then started behind the safety car, followed by a rolling start. The opinions of the F1 drivers were divided on whether this was the correct decision by the FIA.

In Hungary, Alexander Albon spoke to, among others, GPblog about this decision by the FIA. "The people who are most vocal about not driving are the drivers. We are vocal when we think it's ready to go and when we think it was time. But at the moment, the full wet tyre and the conditions of the tracks, they don't align. I mean, the tracks are too wet. It's not the tyres that are not good enough."

There is a lot of criticism about the fact that Formula 1 does not drive in the rain as it used to. Albon stated that this makes the drivers seem weak now. "It's just that we can't see. And unfortunately, we're the only ones that can truly tell you what that is. The drivers are actually put in a bit of an awkward position in that sense, we look weak. We look like the ones that are complaining, and that we should just get on with it. "

The governing body is urgently looking for a solution to make the premier class perform better in the rain. "The FIA listens to us very closely, and they do monitor, and they're always looking for solutions and potential areas they can improve to help us. But yeah, it's a really awkward conversation because I agree with you, the wets are, they are fine to go racing on the wets, on a clear track, we would be totally fine. But at the moment, these cars are producing huge amounts of spray", Albon said.

A lot of criticism was directed at the rolling start after the Grand Prix of Belgium. According to Albon, this was the right decision. "There's a few things, for example, we do like to do standing starts and we're always pushing for standing starts, which puts on the show, but then it does make the issue worse. I think we did a decent job to do a rolling start for Spa at least."

He emphasised the impossible task of the FIA, particularly. "It's almost like an impossible job for the FIA. We've historically seen some very severe life-threatening crashes in the wet, and to make those calls, to make those calls, I don't think any of us would want to be in their positions to do them." 

"I honestly think we just have to see how the new regs go. Hopefully, the spray is going to improve as a consequence. I think it will, just seeing the philosophy of the cars, it should improve. And then, yeah, you know, maybe revisit the conversation," the Thai-Brit concluded.