Fernley: Lessons need to be learnt

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley says lessons need to be learnt from the response to the fire that engulfed the Williams garage following the Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunya.

The fire, which originated in the fuel area of the garage, occurred 90 minutes after the conclusion of the race while Williams was celebrating Pastor Maldonado's surprise victory.

While the team evacuated the garage, members of rival teams rushed to the assistance of the Williams crew, making use of the fire extinguishers available in garages up and down the pitlane to bring the fire under control.

Fire crews from the Catalunya circuit then joined the teams in fighting the fire but, while the reaction of teams was widely praised, Fernley was more critical of the response from circuit fire crews to the unfolding drama.

"Incompetent would be a very polite way of saying what these people have done here today," he was quoted by the Daily Telegraph. "There's no training, no procedures. I went down to see how my man is, and I had to fight my way in.

"We need to look seriously at the training of people at the circuits. I'm not impressed at all."

A total of 31 people, including team members from Force India, Caterham and Williams, were treated after the incident, with seven taken to hospital.