Formula 1 chiefs have been told to prepare for a severe backlash from angry drivers over the incident at the Japanese Grand Prix which saw Pierre Gasly come close to a recovery vehicle on the track.
Worrying footage showed the AlphaTauri driver, travelling at high speed and with shocking visibility because of he heavy rain, go past the tractor. It had entered the track a few moments earlier, to recover the wreckage of Carlos Sainz's Ferrari after his crash on the first lap.
"God! What the? What is this tractor? What is this tractor on track?" Gasly yelled over team radio. "I passed next to it, This is unacceptable! What has happened? Can't believe this... I could have f***ing killed myself."
It was especially concerning as Suzuka was the site of a crash eight years ago, which claimed the life of Jules Bianchi. The Marussia driver, a childhood friend of Gasly's, smashed into a recovery vehicle in October 2014, and died as a result of his injuries nine months later.
Gasly was visibly shaken when speaking to the media after the race and said he had feared for his life when he saw the shape of the recovery vehicle through the mist and spray, and asked: "How today can we see a crane, not even in the gravel but on the race track, while we are still on the track?"
Many of his fellow racers feel the same way. And, speaking on the BBC's Chequered Flag podcast, Formula E racer Sam Bird said he expects the F1 drivers to come together next time out at the United States Grand Prix to make their feelings known.
"I wouldn't want to be one of the officials or one of the stewards in Austin," he said. "Because all of the drivers unanimously will be up in arms about what has happened and why this has happened and calling for change and addressing this as an issue.
"I hope that the FIA come out and release a statement addressing the issue, and communicate, because if they think that issuing a penalty to Pierre Gasly is the end of the matter, then they've got another thing coming.
"Because I think that us racing drivers, all of the drivers out there today and the racing community, deserve an answer to why this has happened today. For what reason that happened today and what they will do in order to make changes for the safety of racing drivers going forwards."
