SPA-FRANCORCHAMP: Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali has called for action to be taken in improving the standards of driving in Formula One and its junior feeder series, following Sunday’s opening lap pile-up at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Domenicali was shocked by the multiple collision that saw world championship leader Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and rival contender Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren eliminated from the race.

They were taken out when Frenchman Romain Grosjean, of Lotus, who won the GP2 feeder series last year, swerved aggressively at the start and crashed into Hamilton. Mexican Sergio Perez of Sauber was also eliminated.

The race stewards handed Grosjean, 26, a one-race ban for causing the crash and fined him €50,000.

But Domenicali believes further action should be taken to improve driving standards in an effort to prevent further damaging incidents.

He said: “In my view, the most important thing is looking at the behaviour of drivers. It has to start in the championships before Formula One.

“You see it too often in the other series that drivers are very aggressive and try to do something almost over what it is possible to do.

“So it is important to be very strict since they start racing and then they will arrive in F1 in a better condition for that.”

He said Grosjean had to take full responsibility for the Spa accident.

Grosjean’s Lotus flew just over Alonso’s Ferrari in the accident.

“For sure it was not the fault of Fernando - that is the basic point!” said Domenicali.

“I have to say after what happened I am pleased and happy that nothing happened to him. Having a car flying almost over his head could be really dangerous.

“Specifically on that point, for sure I believe that all was caused by the move of Grosjean and it is right that he is sanctioned for this.

“But the most important thing is that the drivers, especially the younger ones in the junior series arriving in Formula One, improve their standards and stop this kind of aggressive moving.” — AFP

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