Button: Wet track a 'joke'
Jenson Button fears for drivers’ safety in tomorrow’s Brazilian Grand Prix as Sao Paulo braced itself for another torrential downpour.
The 23-year-old Brit spectacularly crashed out of first qualifying yesterday after the Interlagos track was left in a treacherous state by several hours of constant rain.
Button’s safety was never in any doubt as he ploughed his way through a polystyrene marker board having been sent skidding off the sodden track.
But with all the weather predictions saying race day will be just as wet, Button fears any accident could have far more serious consequences.
“If it’s wet and we’re racing then it’s going to be very difficult,” said Button, who slammed conditions earlier in the day as “dangerous” and a “joke” though the rain had relented in time for qualifying.
“If someone has an accident and stops on the circuit then we won’t be able to see what has happened. It is going to be dangerous. The first few laps of the race will be very dangerous without a safety car.”
Button, who will lead off final qualifying today after finishing bottom of the time-sheets yesterday, saw his fears backed up by fellow Brit David Coulthard.
The Scot was the instigator of a document, signed by most of the drivers, expressing their concern if qualifying had taken place in the same rain-lashed conditions as free practice and private testing earlier.
“I think you would never do a start in those conditions,” said the 32-year-old.
“The spray would just mean that you would not see any cars. If you need any guidance what’s that like, just switch off the wipers in your road car.
“You would be able to start the race under the safety car and then see if it cleared up a bit but you couldn’t race in those conditions.
“It is difficult for the public to understand why the best drivers and the best cars in the world need the safety car.
“We can give our opinion but if we’re told that the track is safe to race then I will be out there. I am not going to walk away from the track alone. I will be out there looking for points.”
And Button’s team-mate Jacques Villeneuve also said it would be “crazy” to race in similar conditions, especially as the cost-cutting measure in Formula One means only one wet tyre is allowed now, but it is does not have enough grip in extreme weather.
“The rules about having only one wet tyre is a big concern,” added Villeneuve, who called on Max Mosley, president of the world governing body, FIA, to reverse the ruling which will be discussed by team chiefs next week.
“It’s extremely, extremely dangerous because it has forced the tyre manufacturers into building a wet tyre that will drive until you can put dries on. That is a tyre that cannot work when it is wet. It is just impossible to drive.
“President Mosley is always trying to make rules that are safe, he is always pushing for safety so I am sure he will see the logic in having two different types of tyres as that will make it a lot safer.
“It would be crazy to race with that amount of water. You can’t have five cars aqua-planing down the straight and all the cars going flat out behind them.”
Jaguar’s Mark Webber will start last in the single lap qualifying system after capitalising on the improved weather to set the fastest time yesterday.
Button will be followed immediately by British rookies Justin Wilson (Minardi) and Ralph Firman (Jordan) while Coulthard will start fourth last in his McLaren.
