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F1: Button Criticises Ecclestone’s ‘Shortcut’ Concept

REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION Jenson Button has criticised comments by Bernie Ecclestone suggesting Formula 1 could introduce an on-track shortcut to boost the excitement of races.
Button told Autosport that Ecclestone’s idea could potentially compromise drive


REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION Jenson Button has criticised comments by Bernie Ecclestone suggesting Formula 1 could introduce an on-track shortcut to boost the excitement of races.

Button told Autosport that Ecclestone's idea could potentially compromise driver safety, with visibility out of the cockpit difficult enough as it is.

"We struggle seeing anyway out of the sides of the cars, because the cockpit comes up to here for safety reasons. So if there is a car coming at an angle, it can be very dangerous," he said.

"It's probably not one of his better ideas. Bernie has a lot of very, very good ideas, and that is not one of the best ideas that Bernie has come up with."

The McLaren driver also suggested the shortcut would be ineffective as any car on track would be able to utilise it.

"I suppose if you are the only person who knows about (the shortcut) then it is a great idea," he said.

Speaking to the media last week, Ecclestone raised the idea of introducing a shortcut to increase the amount of overtaking.

"I've tried to push the teams with a number of proposals. Imagine a shortcut which a driver can use five times every race," he said. "It would stop people getting stuck behind others and be good for TV."

Formula 1 has come under criticism in recent years for the extreme difficulty drivers face in passing cars, which has forced teams to rely on pit stop strategy to advance through the pack.

And Ecclestone is believed to be concerned new regulations banning refuelling will only add to the problem, prompting F1's commercial boss to suggest a number of potential solutions.

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