LONDON: Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has raised concern about safety at this month's Monaco Grand Prix now that drivers can use a moveable rear wing to help with overtaking.

"I just think it is wrong," the most experienced driver in Formula One history who also chairs the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) told the
autosport.com website.

"I would love the people at the top to sit in the car and try to do the tunnel with the DRS (Drag Reduction System or moveable rear wing) open," added the Williams driver, who will be 39 years old on the Monday before the Monaco race.

"In my opinion, they are waiting for something bad to happen. And when it happens, they will just say, 'Oh, next year we will not have it for Monaco.'

"The drivers have not been listened to right now and I think it is the wrong decision."

Monaco, with its tight and twisty circuit around the Mediterranean principality is a glamorous but unforgiving race where overtaking is extremely difficult and cars skim the steel barriers.

The tunnel section, with a blast into darkness and back to daylight, is the quickest point on the street circuit but one fraught with danger as tyre debris and 'marbles' make it perilous to move off the racing line at speed.

Some teams had wanted the DRS system banned for Monaco but others opposed that because it would mean designing expensive alternative Monaco-only wings. — Reuters

LONDON: Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica had a further small operation on Tuesday as he entered a new phase of rehabilitation three months after his career-threatening rally accident.

His Renault team said on their website (
www.lotusrenaultgp.com) that doctors now considered the first stage of the driver's recovery to be finished.

"Thanks to Robert's strength and to a highly attentive medical plan, the delicate period was overcome positively and without any complications," they said.

"With the progress of his recovery, we are now entering the second phase, which is heavy rehabilitation aimed to restore functionality."

Kubica spent two months in hospital after suffering life-threatening arm, leg and hand injuries while competing in a minor rally in Italy in early February.

The Renault statement added: "More small operations are planned to remove the unavoidable adhesions that are affecting the functionality of his forearm and elbow muscles.

"This is considered routine practice. The first one was done today and everything went according to plan." — Reuters