Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) Terming the death of two racers in a week a “shame”, Force India driver Adrian Sutil Monday maintained that Formula One has managed to stay safe since the fatal crash of Brazilian Ayrton Senna in 1994.

Sutil said the death of British Indycar racer Dan Wheldon and Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli goes to prove that the two racing events were dangerous whereas F1 was pretty safe.

“Everybody knows that IndyCar is dangerous. Every year we hear of deaths in IndyCar and MotoGP is extremely dangerous as well. But since 1994 we have not faced any fatal accident in Formula One. So that is good for Formula One. I can say that Formula One is pretty safe and secured,” said Sutil on the sidelines of the unveiling of the Kingfisher Force India commemorative cans.

The German driver, however, said that risk is part and parcel of motorsports.

“Safety standards have improved but Formula One can be dangerous as well. Driving at 300km/hr can be dangerous but we have safe cars and circuits,” he said.

On the Buddh International Circuit, Sutil said he was yet to have a glimpse of the track but have experienced it on the simulator.

“It is a pretty new track. It has lot of different corners, some are blind corners. Everything has been included in the track. It has a long stretch as well and overtaking should be possible with the help of DRS (Drag Reduction System),” he said.

Sutil also said that there was no pressure on the team for its inaugural home race over the weekend.

“It is positive pressure. It is a global sport and people are watching each and every race. We have to perform well. We know our job and we know how to do it well,” he said.

Asked about his expectations from the race, Sutil said: “We always want to do well. But a podium finish is missing. Top-five finish is tough but not impossible.”