By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
Romain Grosjean was left angry after crashing during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, which he believes should have never started in the first place.
The Frenchman put down the third fastest time in a rain-marred Q1 before aquaplaning and losing control of his No. 8 VF-17 at the start/finish line and hitting one barrier and sliding across the track and backing into the other.
The Haas F1 Team driver’s crash red flagged qualifying, which is still in a delay.
“I’m going to try to be calm, and not say anything I may regret, but I think we shouldn’t have launched qualy,” Grosjean told NBCSN.
“From the out-lap onwards, I complained a lot saying that it was too dangerous, we couldn’t see where we were. I don’t think I was the only one.
“Clearly, crashing in a straight line shows that the car cannot take it. There was too much water. I’m disappointed that we started qualy in those conditions, what can you do?
“You cannot back off, if there’s someone behind you he’s straight in the back of you. You don’t know what’s in front. We should have waited.”
Grosjean his thoughts on if the 2017 tires added to the issue.
“It felt alright on the first lap, but the rain came stronger I believe for the second push lap,” Grosjean said.
“We know we have more aquaplaning on these tyres, it was fine most of the track, just the straight line, brand new tarmac, not clearing the water. It was just too dangerous.
“I think when the FIA brings the safety, to slow down a lot under double waved flags, the Halo is coming in… But launching a qualy which shouldn’t have taken place, or at least after the out lap didn’t seem that it was possible to run, I believe that decision should’ve been made a bit more differently.”
