Monte Carlo, 24 May

Along with the drivers and the cars that are the stars of the grand prix, the unpredictable subject of safety is also under the spotlight at Monaco. The delicate matter has become the focus of attention since the incident that happened to Williams at the Montmelò circuit at the end of the Spanish Grand Prix. The fire that began inside the garage, leading to smoke inhalation and light burns for some team members, has prompted the teams to meet the FIA. Scuderia Ferrari, which has always been at the forefront of discussions about this subject – you only have to think of the particular attention given to KERS – has grabbed the chance to raise the safety level of its own systems. Greater attention will now be paid to the procedures for emergency fires, with specialised extinguishers because the varied origins of the flames require particular types of foam. In the same area, the decision has been taken to protect personnel working with the fuel with flame-retardant overalls, the same type that were used when refuelling was carried out in the pit lane.