Pierre Gasly has hit out at the use of a recovery tractor in the Japanese Grand Prix after narrowly avoiding a crash with the vehicle.
A vehicle went onto the rain-soaked track to collect Carlos Sainz's Ferrari early in the race. Most drivers followed the safety car, but Gasly was at the back of the grid in barely visible conditions.
He narrowly missed the vehicle and vented his frustrations over the team radio seconds later.
Advert
The incident comes after Jules Bianchi collided with a recovery vehicle in 2014 at the same track in Suzuka.
Bianchi died of injuries suffered in the crash nine months later and Gasly claimed not learning from mistakes is 'disrespectful' to Bianchi's family.
He told Sky Sports: "We lost Jules already, we lost an amazing guy and amazing driver, eight years ago on the same track in the same conditions with a crane. How today, we can see a crane not even in the gravel but on the race track while we are on the track? I don't understand that.
Advert
"Obviously I got scared. If I had lost the car in a similar way Carlos lost his the lap before, it doesn't matter the speed 200, 100. I would've just died. Simple as that. It's disrespectful to Jules, it's disrespectful to his family and to all of us.
"We are risking our lives out there. We're doing the best job in the world but what we are asking is to keep us safe. It's already dangerous enough...
"We could've waited one minute to get back in the pit-lane and put the tractors on track. I'm grateful I'm here and tonight I'm going to call my family and all my loved ones.
"I passed two metres from that crane. If I was two metres to the left I would've been dead."
The FIA said Gasly was at fault for driving too fast in the wild conditions, which eventually saw the race delayed for two hours.
Advert
Gasly responded to that by explaining he was respecting his delta time. The 26-year-old added he was well within the delta time before claiming it was 'unfair' to be blamed.
Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix and his second Formula One World Championship.
There was initial confusion when it came to Verstappen being crowned champion, but it was confirmed shortly after the Red Bull man crossed the finishing line.
Daniel Marland