Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Fernando Alonso, Jules Bianchi and More
Formula One has emerged from one of its most difficult weekends in recent memory.
Jules Bianchi's horrific accident at the Japanese Grand Prix cast a dark shadow over the sport. For the first time in many years, no one cared who had won the race—the muted podium ceremony was an irrelevant sideshow as drivers, teams, fans and media awaited news of Bianchi.
He remains in a critical condition.
The shadows darkened further later on Sunday when news emerged that ex-driver Andrea de Cesaris had died following a motorcycle crash in his native Rome.
Former driver Jacques Villeneuve responded to Bianchi's crash by arguing for the safety car to be deployed after every crash, regardless of the size.
On the other side of the fence, the new GPDA chairman, Alex Wurz, has warned against any knee-jerk responses. The FIA has ordered a full investigation into what happened.
The only other story retaining significant relevance out of the weekend is the ongoing saga surrounding Fernando Alonso's next move. Three doors appear to have been closed over the weekend, but the Spaniard doesn't seem overly concerned.
Read on for a full roundup of the top stories from recent days.
Tributes Paid to Andrea de Cesaris
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Tributes have poured in for Andrea de Cesaris following his death in a motorcycle accident on Sunday. The tragedy occurred on Rome's ring road. He was 55.
The Italian made his F1 debut in 1980 for Alfa Romeo before moving to McLaren the following year. A second stint at Alfa followed, and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1982 saw him score his first podium.
Spells at Ligier and Minardi came next before a season at Brabham. In 1988, he scored Rial's first points, and in 1989 he became the first Scuderia Italia driver to stand on the podium.
In 1991, De Cesaris joined the new Jordan team, scoring nine points and helping them to fifth in the constructors' championship in their debut year.
Two years at Tyrrell followed before a return to Jordan and a short spell at Sauber. He retired from the sport at the end of the 1994 season, having amassed 208 race starts.
In later life, he enjoyed windsurfing in his spare time, and he made a brief comeback to motorsport in the Grand Prix Masters series.
His 1981 employers, McLaren, were among those tweeting condolences.
"All at McLaren send condolences to ex-McLaren #F1 driver Andrea de Cesaris, who sadly passed away today. pic.twitter.com/iS4M4N6Hrt
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 5, 2014"
Former team Sauber and one-time rivals Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert also commented on the sad news.
Jules Bianchi Remains in a Critical Condition
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Jules Bianchi remains in intensive care following his accident at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
The Frenchman sustained what an FIA statement described as a "severe head injury" and was rushed to the Mie General Hospital immediately after the race. He underwent emergency surgery before being moved to intensive care.
The most recent update was given to media outside the hospital on Monday. Sky Sports News reports the brief statement indicated his condition was "critical but stable."
Bianchi's parents arrived at the hospital on Monday evening and have spent time with the driver. They too issued a brief statement through the FIA spokesman, thanking hospital staff, but they did not make any comment.
Sky also reports that Dr. Gerard Saillant, who was involved in the early treatment of Michael Schumacher's head injury, was due to arrive at the hospital. The site's reporter, Craig Slater, revealed:
"He is one of the world’s leading orthopaedic surgeons and he advised the Schumacher family when they were undertaking his initial treatment in Grenoble after his skiing accident last December. He was a kind of intermediary figure between the doctors treating Schumacher and the family and it seems as though he’s going to play a similar role here.
"
The FIA has ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Jacques Villeneuve Calls for Safety Cars for All Accidents
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Jacques Villeneuve believes changes should be made to the F1 safety car procedure in response to Jules Bianchi's accident in Suzuka.
The former F1 world champion and Indy 500 winner was quoted by Autosport, saying:
"The rules have to be changed concerning the safety car. When I was racing, and afterwards, I was always saying that any time there is an accident there should be a safety car.
There should not be room for judgement. If someone has to go out to pick up a car stranded on the track, it's simple. Accident—safety car, and that's it. It should have been like that for years. America has had that forever.
The problem now is everytime the FIA send the safety car out all the media and fans complain, saying they destroyed the race. So now they second-guess themselves. It's a lose-lose situation.
Yes, sometimes it does slow the race down a bit, but at least you avoid cases like today, and you avoid the human aspect of having to make a decision.
"
Before moving to F1, Villeneuve raced in the IndyCar championship. He later competed in NASCAR, and what he said about an accident always meaning a safety car in America is largely true.
Most of these series' races take place on ovals or temporary street circuits with little or nothing in the way of run-off. When a car crashes, it often comes to rest on the race track itself.
That makes a safety car for each accident necessary.
But nearly all F1 circuits have gravel or tarmac run-off areas, and the overwhelming majority of crashed cars come to rest a long way from the racing surface.
Villeneuve's assertion that it would reduce the likelihood of an accident like Bianchi's happening again is true. But the likelihood is already close to zero.
For most accidents, a safety car just isn't needed.
Bringing one out for every incident could—by bunching up the field on cold tyres lacking normal operating brake temperature and repeatedly inducing crowding of the pit laneend up causing more problems than it prevents.
But mandating crash tests for and making suitable modifications to the vehicles used to pick up stranded cars—and making greater use of cranes to reduce their use—might be worth looking into.
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Alex Wurz Cautions Against Knee-Jerk Reactions
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The chairman of F1's drivers' union believes there is little to be gained from knee-jerk reactions in the wake of Bianchi's crash.
Alex Wurz, of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, was quoted by Autosport, saying:
"Obviously, such a terrible accident throws up a lot of questions and opinions. By nature, we all like to have answers, conclusions and solutions as soon as possible.
All of us drivers understand and also feel the need to investigate and discuss this matter. But we shall not jump to conclusions without having all evidence and information, and also having the chance to hear other parties' point of view.
"
Wurz has been involved in top-level professional motorsport since 1996. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans on his debut in that year before moving into F1 with Benetton as a mid-season replacement for the unwell Gerhard Berger.
The Austrian remained in F1 as a race or test driver until the end of 2011, later serving as a consultant for Williams in 2012.
His words appear wise and go a long way toward explaining why he was elected to his role in the first place. Decisions made in the immediate aftermath of a serious incident are rarely given sufficient thought and are in no way guaranteed to be the right ones.
Some time, reflection and as much information as possible is needed before any significant changes, if any, are made.
Fernando Alonso's Future Remains Uncertain
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Fernando Alonso's future remains uncertain after a Japanese Grand Prix weekend that threw up as many questions as answers.
In the space of a couple of days, three doors appear to have been slammed in the Spaniard's face.
Sebastian Vettel's decision to leave Red Bull—almost certainly to replace Alonso at Ferrari—removed the option of repairing some badly burned bridges and remaining with the Scuderia.
The Austrian team's immediate announcement that Daniil Kvyat will replace the departing Vettel took away another potential 2015 seat.
And a possible 2015 switch to Mercedes now seems as unlikely as ever. Asked on Saturday about any interest in Alonso, Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda told Sky Sports F1:
"No. Confirmed: we have Lewis and we have Nico. They are on the front-row of the grid [in Japan], why should we change anything? For us it’s clear because we never even discussed with him [Alonso] because Lewis has a contract for next year and Nico has two more years.
With Lewis now we’re negotiating to renew his contract after '15. 100 percent. For two or three years. We’re just talking to him how long does he do. We’re all positive, he’s positive this is going to happen.
"
The logical conclusion would be that Alonso is heading to McLaren-Honda. But his words over the weekend suggested all was not as simple as it seems.
He told assembled press, including Fox's Adam Cooper:
"Today was a surprise for me, Vettel leaving Red Bull. Everyone was waiting for some kind of announcement on my side, and the first one to move chairs was Sebastian.
On my side as I've said my priority is to help Ferrari, we are in the middle of a weekend first of all, and secondly my future—let's say I've had my mind set already for two or three months, everything is moving in the right direction, but I'm still not 100 percent decided what to do.
I have that privilege that I'm probably the decision maker in some of the aspects. I gained this respect in the last couple of years, and I can go more or less wherever I want to go, in the time I want to go. And that I will use in the best way.
"
Evidently, more than one serious option is on the table.
Unfortunately for us, only Alonso appears to know what they are.
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