Mansell criticizes safety conscious

NIGEL MANSELL has criticized Formula One's governing body, the FIA, for making today's circuits too safety conscious and dull.

Former World Champion Mansell said he did not want to see drivers get hurt but added that he thought track alterations had gone too far and were ruining the sport.

"There's been a total over-reaction in changing the race tracks," he said. "Having all these run off areas, they're fantastic, it's good for safety, I don't want to see anyone get hurt unless they have to.

"But tightening up all corners, taking some of the great corners away, the fast corners, I think is a mistake. Hopefully in years to come they will realize that and design more circuits where you can literally come down the straights, slipstream and have some great overtaking maneuvers."