F1 drivers back moves to change Interlagos corner

GPDA president Rubens Barrichello has backed efforts for a change to the Curva do Cafe corner at Brazilian grand prix venue Interlagos.

A stock car driver died after bouncing off the barriers onto the racing line there in 2007, and at Sepang Felipe Massa is wearing a sticker on his helmet to pay tribute to Gustavo Sondermann, after his Brazilian countryman died in a near-identical crash last Sunday.

"If they (track officials) need the (F1) drivers to talk with the FIA to change the corner, we will," said Barrichello in Malaysia.

Also to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Massa agreed: "There has not been only one death, we have to improve that corner."

Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso had horror accidents at the Curva do Cafe some years ago.

"The problem is that whoever is coming along can only see what’s going on ahead when he’s almost there," said the Australian.

"It’s curved, uphill and in the cockpit we’re right on the ground," Webber added. "We go through there in fifth, sixth gear at 220kph."

FIA official Charlie Whiting said at Sepang that Brazil’s racing federation CBA will submit a report about the accident before he comments.