Monza officials defend circuit safety

The GPDA on Monday demanded changes to the Italian track in order to improve the safety standards, and the body was critical of the circuit's director for not attending a meeting with them on Friday.

"I didn't go to the meeting because I was busy elsewhere, but if they told me there were problems with the circuit I would have gone there immediately," Enrico Ferrari told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I thought it was a formal invitation, to thank us for the work we had done. Instead..."

Giorgio Beghella Bartoli, technical director of Monza, said they had carried out all the works required by the FIA ahead of the race.

"Our interlocutor aren't the drivers but the FIA, and we've always done what we were requested to do," he said. "We've resurfaced the track because the asphalt was now 12 years old and was worn out.

"There are some priorities with the works [that need to be done]. On top of that, this year we've added in the run-off areas barriers, devised with the FIA, that can withstand the crashes at 200 km/h mentioned by the drivers."

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone also defended Monza, saying: "The drivers should speak with the FIA and not with the press. And they should let Monza off, as it has always respected every request."