Sato, Heidfeld Praise F1 Safety Standards

Jordan's Takuma Sato and Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld have praised the safety levels of Formula One following their massive collision at the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Sato had to be freed from his mangled Jordan after the out-of-control Sauber of Heidfeld careered into him at high-speed at the A1-Ring, but fortunately both escaped with only a few bruises.

Speaking at a news conference on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix both drivers admitted their surprise at escaping without any serious injuries.

"It was obviously the biggest impact I've ever felt," Sato said. "Obviously, I've seen that the monocoque has had a big hole punched through it which is very dangerous, but luckily, nowadays in Formula One there are huge safety regulations.

"Obviously the rescue team and the medical team did a really good job so that's why I wasn't hurt and was obviously able to get out of the car. So I was very, very happy with this.

"I drove the classic Lotus here last weekend and it was very different to Formula One nowadays. You're sitting in the middle of the fuel tank and obviously it's so dangerous compared to nowadays. The improvement is significant."

Heidfeld admitted that he had been worried about the condition of Sato after the crash and expressed his relief that the Jordan youngster is fit to drive in Monaco.

"I'm very happy about the job Formula One has done over the last couple of years to improve safety," he said. "It's difficult to say what would have happened a few years ago but definitely more would have happened.

"I was more worried after the crash about Takuma than about myself because my crash was in the best possible way, just backwards, where you are quite safe. But I think if you hit another car in the middle, it would have been even worse to crash into the Jordan a bit more in the front, then it really gets dangerous. I'm really happy about the improvements."

Sato will compete despite muscles in his right leg causing him a minor problem, while Heidfeld has a slight injury to his leg.

Sato said: "My knee and the right hand leg muscles are still sewing but obviously mentally there is no effect and I spoke to Nick on the Tuesday after the accident and we are all fine and there's nothing between us."

"I'm fine as well," Heidfeld added. "I was already testing on Wednesday of last week and I was in no pain at all. It was worse just walking up and down the stairs than being in the car, because I don't really need to use the muscle on top of the leg in the car. It's a bit blue still but it's not a problem. It doesn't really hurt."