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French President of the FIA has made a gaff that many believe to be insensitive after Friday evening saw around 120 people killed to what was an unprovoked attack on the Capital of France.
Originally Formula One World was going to hold a minute silence before the Brazilian Race in respect for all of the road car related accidents. But due to the events that unfolded in Paris, plans have changed so that the minute silence is in a mark for the those killed in Paris.
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In comes an unhappy French President Jean Todt, who has recently got a bit punchy with a few issues of late, one being a the idea of Cheaper Alternative Engine for 2017. And now the changing of the minutes silence, describing the terrorist attacks on his hometown to Canel+ as something which could happen anywhere and that the FIA should not be linked with it.
“Do you realise that the number of people killed in road accidents is by far bigger than the number of people who died in Paris,”
We had already planned to do something at the occasion of the day of celebrations for road victims," he said. "Every day on our streets, 3,500 people die. Every day there are 30 times more people who die than in the Paris assassinations.
We had decided a minute of silence and of course we can't ignore what happened in Paris. We will thus have a moment of attention for what happened in Paris.
Paris is one of the great capitals of the world and it's not appropriate to link the FIA to this tragic accident. But you can only suffer when you see such a drama and we hope it won't happen again."
Evidently he is not pleased with the change of the minutes silence from Road Car victims to the atrocities in Paris. The immediate shift was sparked by F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone who released the following statement:
"Because of the horrific terrorist attacks of 13 November in Paris, the ceremony to pay tribute to the casualties of road traffic accidents scheduled for the Brazilian Grand Prix within the framework of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims has been modified.
The drivers' parade lap will see all competitors wearing a black armband as a sign of mourning and tribute to the victims of the Paris tragedy and as a gesture of solidarity with their families and loved ones.
Written by Harry Shovelar
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C. Sainz jr
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