Wednesday March 8th, 2000

Former world champion Jackie Stewart has warned that refuelling cars during Formula One races is an unnecessary risk likely to end "sooner or later" in disaster.

"Refuelling is an unnecessary risk," the triple champion and former Stewart team boss was quoted as saying in the Guardian newspaper on Wednesday.

"The scale of a fire that could take place if the wrong accident occurred is far beyond the imagination of most people."

"With the type of tanks and high-pressure feed we use, the vapour factor alone would be explosive, never mind the flame factor," he added.

"Sooner or later there is going to be a big fire and unfortunately the nature of the sport is such that we will need a big fire for anything to be done."

The biggest recent pitlane fire in Formula One involved Dutch driver Jos Verstappen in 1994. His Benetton was engulfed in flames during a refuelling stop at the German Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who is returning to Formula One this season with the Arrows team, and five Benetton mechanics suffered minor burns in that incident.

The fireball also threatened the safety of VIP spectators in the executive "paddock club" area above the pits.

Mid-race refuelling had been re-introduced at the start of that race. Benetton were later charged with deliberately removing a fuel filter from their refuelling rig designed to eliminate the risk of a flash fire.

The team escaped punishment.

A new "decoupling under flow" method of refuelling was pioneered by Ferrari last season. It involves removing the nozzle from the car while fuel is still flowing.

The system has been approved for the new season which starts in Melbourne on Sunday with the Australian Grand Prix.