The chaotic opening of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort sparked intense debate in the paddock. Several drivers felt the start procedure chosen by the FIA made it difficult to warm up their tyres, leading to a major incident. Now, the FIA has broken its silence, explaining the decision was made for safety reasons.
Rain during the grid procedure caused Max Verstappen to lose control at the final corner on the first lap. The Red Bull driver admitted his mistake, but many are asking: why was the start carried out in a way that drivers considered less than ideal?
According to Pierre Gasly, drivers could have warmed up their tyres more effectively if the formation lap had been completed without the safety car. "If we went the way we did with one lap behind the safety car and a standing start, then I would have preferred to just do a normal out-lap, so we would have pushed a bit faster," he said. Gasly added that the FIA should have chosen between a rolling start behind the safety car or a standing start with a normal formation lap.
Liam Lawson, standing in at Red Bull, agreed. He even admitted he already knew before the start that the procedure would lead to chaos. "I think the decision was not right. We needed more laps to warm up the tyres, especially in the parts of the track that were still wet," Lawson said.
The FIA then explained that the decision to do a formation lap behind the safety car was taken because the track conditions were considered too dangerous to pass at full speed. The final corner was still very wet, and the safety car gave drivers more control to navigate that area safely.
Despite this, criticism remained. Many felt the procedure created new risks, as tyres were not warm enough for the standing start. This was compounded by the decision of most drivers to start on slicks, given that most of the track was dry.
The incident at the final corner also nearly involved Gabriel Bortoleto, who almost hit the wall, and Nico Hulkenberg, who nearly rear-ended Bortoleto. "I saw big smoke ahead, I tried to avoid it, but I also lost traction," Bortoleto recounted.
This incident serves as an important lesson for the FIA and the drivers. Evaluating start procedures for the future will be a hot topic at the next race commission meeting. One thing is certain: whatever decision is made, safety remains the top priority.
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