Bernie Ecclestone says F1 is too safe and should introduce walls at corners

Bernie Ecclestone has suggested Formula 1 should build walls on racetrack corners to make the sport more dangerous.

The F1 supremo has accepted his remarks are unlikely to be well received following the sport's prolonged pursuit of increased safety.

"I've been criticised probably by everybody because I wanted to build 40cm walls around the corners," said Ecclestone. "In those [the old] days, and it can't happen again, people would come to a race and think somebody could get killed.

"Today they know they come to a race and nobody is going to get killed. Which is good."

Natalie Pinkham is joined by former BAR and Benetton Team Principal David Richards and Sky F1's Marc Priestley to review the US Grand Prix. Natalie Pinkham is joined by former BAR and Benetton Team Principal David Richards and Sky F1's Marc Priestley to review the US Grand Prix.

Speaking at the US GP, where the disregard shown by the field for the designated track limits was routinely criticised, Ecclestone added: "They keep saying they mustn't go off the road, I promise they won't."

After over 20 years, dating back to Ayrton Senna's death at the 1994 San Marino GP, without a fatality caused by F1 racing, Jules Bianchi passed away last year as a result of injuries sustained during the 2014 Japanese GP.

But Ecclestone has cited Fernando Alonso's escape from his dramatic crash at the season-opening Australian GP as another reason to consider change.

"What Fernando had in Australia ... you wouldn't think he was going to walk away," said Ecclestone.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Haas' Esteban Gutierrez collide in the Australian Grand Prix leading to the Spaniard being sent airborne McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Haas' Esteban Gutierrez collide in the Australian Grand Prix leading to the Spaniard being sent airborne

"What we ought to do immediately that happens is have big sheets all the way around, bring the ambulance in ... and take him away. He's gone to the hospital and later on you announce that, thank God, he's out. A bit of showbiz. People like that."