• Formula 1
    •  August 26, 2017

    10 Corners More Dangerous Than Mayweather AND McGregor

    August 26, 2017
    Jasper Dunning
    Jasper Dunning
    Contributor
    Jasper Dunning
    Jasper Dunning
    Jasper_Dunning

    Saturday’s clash in Las Vegas will certainly pack a few dangerous punches, if you’ll pardon the pun. But Sunday marks the return of the F1 season in Spa after its summer break and this got me thinking: the danger inherent in motorsport and boxing almost go hand-in-hand.

    So which corners around the world would give Mayweather, and in particular, McGregor, a run for their money? Well, look no further…

    1. Turn 8, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, “The Corkscrew”

    Consisting of a completely blind crest and then a five-storey drop, probably the most famous corner in motorsport is the obvious place to start. It was the scene of Alex Zanardi’s famous CART IndyCar pass on Bryan Herta in 1996 and very nearly ended in disaster.

    2. Turn 4, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, “Eau Rouge”

    If The Corkscrew is the most famous corner in motorsport, Eau Rouge is not very far behind. The scene of many an epic overtake (think Mark Webber on Fernando Alonso from 2011 in particular), it has also been the scene of many an epic accident, as Ricardo Zonta found out in 1999.

    3. Turn 8, Intercity Istanbul Park

    One of the very few good things about Istanbul Park and one of the best corners ever designed by Hermann Tilke, turn 8 turned heads with its four-apex, 5 g and stomach-churning nature when the Formula 1 circus first visited in 2005, which drivers took flat out in qualifying mode.

    4. Turn 6, Circuit de Monaco, “The Fairmont Hairpin” (formerly Loews)

    You might be surprised to find the slowest corner ever on the F1 calendar included in a “most dangerous” list. But taking this hairpin at 30mph and full lock is troublesome for even the most skillful drivers – and there’s nearly always a concertina-style dramatic accident.

    5. Turn 15, Suzuka Circuit, “130R”

    A full-throttle flick left that drivers often cite as the main reason why Suzuka is their favourite circuit. Not renowned as an overtaking spot, particularly around the outside, Fernando Alonso decided otherwise in 2005. A very brave man indeed, who proved his world title-winning credentials that day by overtaking the seven-time champ.

    6. Turn 11, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, “Parabolica”

    Just watch some of the 1970s and 1980s drivers trying to hang on to twitchy back ends and search for grip as they get on the power. Beautiful. One of the last ‘epic’ quick F1 corners to have its gravel trap removed, if you got it wrong here, you weren’t getting out of the crunchy stuff in a hurry.

    https://twitter.com/nickistically/status/772014755573891072

    7. Turn 11, Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans), “Indianapolis”

    Not named as a tribute to the famed American circuit, but instead because of its resemblance to it. Not only is the corner banked like an oval, but a layer of bricks was found under the track when it was asphalted. Drivers say this corner is the scariest to take in the dark during the 24 hour race – and this video suggests just as much.

    8. Turn 4, Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari, “Tamburello”

    The scene of Ayrton Senna’s fateful crash in 1994 (and just before the corner where Roland Ratzenberger also lost his life), this section of the Imola track has since been slowed down with a chicane. It’s still pretty epic, but just look at the speed the cars were carrying that weekend – even in the warm-up.

    9. Turn 4, Sochi Autodrom

    The full speed left-hander that never seems to end. Unless you’re Sebastian Vettel and you’ve been rear-ended by a hapless Daniil Kvyat trying to impress at his home race – in which case things will probably end badly. Note: the load on the right front here must be ridiculous.

    10. Bergwerk/”Lauda Links”, Nürburgring Nordschleife

    That nobody lost their life in this accident was a minor miracle. On lap two of the Nurburgring Grand Prix in 1976, Niki Lauda suffered a terrible accident that sent his car bouncing between barriers and engulfed in flames. He was then struck by Brett Lunger’s Surtees-Ford, before spending almost a minute in the burning car. With little run-off at the Nordschleife, this incident was a safety game-changer in the world of Formula 1.

    https://twitter.com/Jar485/status/892744895697432581

    Jasper Dunning
    Jasper Dunning
    Contributor
    Jasper_Dunning
    Before writing for CLICKON, Jasper worked in worldwide football analytics, covering everything from Idrissa Gana Gueye to Presnel Kimpembe. An avid F1 fan too, he is never short of a tasty opinion.
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