Spa practice crash prompts Formula Renault 3.5 format vote

This year open downforce settings are allowed for race two on Sundays, but a low-downforce set-up is compulsory for the Saturday race and qualifying session.

A crash for Pietro Fantin in free practice two at Spa on Friday prompted Renault Sport to gauge drivers' concerns and team reaction to the format.

Fantin's cockpit floor was penetrated by a wishbone that speared into a gap between the Brazilian's legs after a shunt just before Blanchimont.

"A lot of people have complained about the LDF [low downforce] for a while and nothing seemed to change," said Fantin.

"Today, I had a big crash in low downforce in a corner that is flat with HDF, or the normal configuration, and with LDF was always at the limit.

"On the lap I completely lost aero-load because of the low wing, then I had a big crash.

"I showed them a picture of a wishbone that went through the cockpit and in between my legs, then a video showing that I didn't hit any kerbs.

"Most of the drivers started saying the same thing, that it increases the danger and expense.

"It doesn't allow more overtaking."

Xavier Gonzalez, sporting manager at Renault Sport, said it was not clear whether the low downforce contributed to Fantin's crash, and added that changing regulations during an event would be difficult.

"The idea behind introducing the LDF was to make it easier to select the more talented drivers, because when the car slides more you have to control it better," he said.

"There was one crash with Fantin, and it was difficult to say if the LDF was the cause. I can't say that if the crash happened in high downforce it wouldn't have been worse because he would have been going quicker.

"But we always want to listen to our drivers and teams, who are also our customers, and we want to have a real relationship with them, so we asked them to express their opinion.

"At the beginning I thought everybody was against but during the discussion it was half-and-half, 11 to nine [in favour of retaining the current rules for Spa].

"So if we are not agreed together, we keep the same rule. It is difficult to change during the meeting. From a sporting point of view there is not sporting equity."