George Russell and Carlos Sainz say they have been impressed by FIA’s new Components 1 race director Rui Marques after he swiftly applied the adjustments they instructed within the drivers’ briefing.
Their feedback observe the earlier incumbent, Niels Wittich, being inexplicably axed after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, resulting in considerations over an inexperienced Marques overseeing the ultimate three races of the 2024 season.
Nonetheless, after assembly former F2 and F3 race director Marques for the primary time on Thursday evening on the Las Vegas Grand Prix, each Mercedes’ Russell and Ferrari’s Sainz say he has listened to the drivers and made constructive adjustments.
Russell, who certified on pole was requested by Autosport/Motorsport.com what he had made from Marques following the drivers’ briefing.
He stated: “Constructive, to be sincere. We’ve been via just a little little bit of an period the place our feedback are taken on board, however little or no change occurs.
“For instance, numerous drivers spoke concerning the observe limits at flip 4. We felt it was just a little bit pointless on a road circuit and he made a change to it within the second.
“That’s what we need to see as drivers, all of us need to be heard and we need to see motion taken straightaway, thus far it has been constructive.”
Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA
Picture by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Photographs
Sainz agreed and illustrated one other change that Marques had applied in a single day following his assembly with the F1 drivers.
Sainz, who will begin Sunday’s race in second, stated: “He has been given a large activity to return right into a season with three races left and being a race director is such an advanced position in Components 1.
“You’ve gotten so many variables to manage that I believe he has been given a really tough activity, however actually from the primary weekend, straight from the go he has been actually good.
“The drivers’ briefings yesterday was probably the greatest we’ve had in a very long time.
“George commented on the exit of flip three, I’d say we additionally requested for some adjustments on the pit entry to make the road extra seen as a result of we actually couldn’t see the pit entry line and we have been very apprehensive about that.
“As we speak, we turned as much as the observe and the pit entry line was widened with a blue line and we have been all saying this was very nice as a result of they did a really good change and with an excellent strategy and the best way have been listened to yesterday was a really constructive assembly and I’m very inspired by that.”
Images from Las Vegas GP Follow & Qualifying
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