Horner: “Alonso could have died with Perez's tire explosion”

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has said Fernando Alonso is lucky to have escaped unscathed from Sergio Perez's tire explosion during the Silverstone race.

“We have to think about the safety of the pilots. Alonso was very lucky to come home,” Horner told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's not right. Let's forget about performance; we forget who has an advantage and who doesn't. Sport must be safe. The most important thing is the safety of the pilots. I'm surprised the race wasn't suspended. Now it's a safety issue."

Alonso was about to overtake Perez when the Mexican's tire suddenly exploded. The two-time world champion fortunately avoided the flying debris splashed at high speed by the McLaren.

“In the episode with Sergio I was really scared and I was really lucky because I missed contact by an inch” declared Alonso after the race.

The FIA ​​therefore responded to the safety issue by changing the regulations and allowing Pirelli to introduce new rear tires with Kevlar belts for the German GP. From the Hungarian GP the supplier will return to the 2012 constructions, judged to be safer. These tires will be tested in the tests that will take place at Silverstone in mid-July.