Bernie Ecclestone has clarified his comments regarding introducing artificial walls around corners in order to enforce track limits and add to Formula One's risk factor.
In the build up to the Mexican Grand Prix, Ecclestone was quoted as saying he wants to see walls erected on the outside of corners to punish drivers for making mistakes and to prevent them from simply running wide. In an interview with Formula One's official website, Ecclestone moved to defend his comments, which he says had been taken out of context.
"What I really said was that these walls should prevent the drivers from running off the track," Ecclestone explained. "Because now when they do, it is a case of somebody has to decide whether they ran off because they had a problem, or because they wanted to get an advantage or they make a mistake.
"That then means you have to rely on somebody's opinion. If you have three stewards that means usually three opinions. One might call for disqualification, one might call for a penalty and the third one might say that there is nothing wrong with it at all.
"The easiest thing to do for some corners -- and I really mean only some, and corners that are not deemed dangerous, where somebody could get an advantage by running off -- would be to erect small walls to remind them that this is the white line. It would mean we lift the white line up by 40 centimetres."
Ecclestone was also quoted as saying that F1 should add a "showbiz" element in the aftermath of accidents by keeping fans guessing whether the driver is injured. Ecclestone denied suggestions he wants to make F1 more dangerous, highlighting his work to improve safety in the sport over the years.
"I have done more for Formula One's safety over the years than anybody else, including having a hospital at the circuits, so we don't need these discussions. I have never made it dangerous in Monaco -- and it's been there for decades.
"Baku was no problem, Singapore no problem. And if you ask a driver what race he would love to win more than any other, the immediate answer would be Monaco! There you have it: no driver ever complained about Monaco."