MARCH 8, 2015

Wurz plays down boycott rumours

Alex Wurz has joined Australian grand prix organisers in playing down the threat of boycott.

Alex Wurz has joined Australian grand prix organisers in playing down the threat of boycott.

Wild reports had suggested teams were nervous about the safety implications of Fernando Alonso's mysterious Barcelona testing crash.

Then it emerged that Grand Prix Drivers' Association president Alex Wurz had circulated a letter to the active drivers about the incident.

But Austrian Wurz has now suggested to the Mirror that rumours of a potential Melbourne boycott are wide of the mark.

"Firstly, we need to know if there are any immediate lessons we need to understand before Australia and the answer is 'no'," he insisted.

"In the short term there is no need for knee jerk reaction to make changes for Australia. F1 safety standards are very high.

"The rest is down to waiting until all facts are there, then we can come to conclusions," Wurz added.

In his letter to the active drivers, the former Williams driver hinted that the real question is not about safety standards, but the details of Alonso's medical situation.

Speculation is now rampant that the 33-year-old blacked out at the wheel of his McLaren-Honda before veering into the wall.

"Understanding is one thing, drawing conclusions is another," Wurz told the British newspaper. "I have asked the drivers to be patient.

"We need to be patient and let them get the job done. Experts are looking very carefully at the data. We understand all safety precautions worked according to the rules," he added.

(GMM)