Safety Improvements Saved Burti, Says Coulthard

McLaren driver David Coulthard believes recent safety improvements to the Blanchimont corner at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit helped Prost's Luciano Burti survive a high-speed crash during Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

Brazilian Burti went off at Blanchimont and crashed into a tyre barrier at around 240 km/h. Coulthard is sure improvements made to that particular part of the circuit could have saved his rival's life.

"All the members of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association) are happy, because we have been involved with the FIA suggesting changes on these corners and we have changed that corner," said Coulthard.

"The run-off in the past would have been the same distance, but the barrier came back so it could have been a much bigger impact."

Burti was buried in the tyre wall after his Prost had touched the Jaguar of Eddie Irvine, lost its front wing and then careered into the barriers. He was fortunate to sustain just concussion and bruising.

"We've got some other ideas and it just takes time to implement these changes," added Coulthard. "As long as drivers can have these kind of accidents from time to time and walk away then we are doing a good job.

"There is no question that in previous years that would have been a potentially fatal accident and we are all happy that he can survive that sort of accident."