22/03/2011
NEWS STORY
Ahead of the season opener, a number of drivers continue to express concern regarding the introduction of the movable rear wing, leading to talk that there could even be strike action.
The device has been introduced in an attempt to increase overtaking, thereby adding more spice to the show. However, other than fears that drivers will have far more work to do already this year, what with the new wing and the return of KERS, there are fears as to the implications of cars running too closely together, drivers mindful of the collision involving Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen at Valencia last year.
"Most of the drivers agreed that it could be, in certain scenarios, a safety issue and that's what still needs to be seen to," said world champion Sebastian Vettel, according to the Herald Sun. "If it's a really big issue then the most important thing is that the drivers are all together."
Veteran Rubens Barrichello, who is preparing for his nineteenth season in F1, is equally worried: "We're going to see crashes going on. That's not the purpose. You're going to gamble," said the Brazilian.
Members of the GPDA discussed the issue in Barcelona during pre-season testing however, one wonders why they waited until just a couple of days before the first practice session before speaking publicly far less threatening to take action.