Following two separate incidents of grass fires at Turn-7 during the opening day of track action at . The FIA has launched a detailed probe to determine the cause of the disturbances.
The first practice session on Friday morning was red-flagged after a blaze ignited on the grass. With a similar incident occurring later during the first session of sprint qualifying. Although the latter did not lead to a red flag, it resulted in a delay to the start of SQ2.
Initial investigations suggest that sparks from the F1 cars may be igniting the grass, but the source of the intense burning remains unclear. There is no evidence of flammable materials or chemicals on the grass, which could have contributed to the fires.
One theory posits that methane gas seeping up from the ground could be fueling the fires. Given that the Shanghai circuit is situated on a swamp, gas build-up is a possibility. Additionally, the presence of underground pipes raises the prospect of a cracked pipe exacerbating the issue.
Despite inspections by the FIA yielding no conclusive evidence of gas presence, precautions have been implemented to mitigate the risk of further incidents. The affected grass areas have been watered down, and an emergency fire response team will be stationed at Turn 7 during today’s track activities.
“While the cause of yesterday’s grass fires remains uncertain, we are taking proactive measures to address any potential recurrence.” Stated the FIA in a brief announcement.
Leave a Reply