Williams chief technical officer Paddy Lowe has stressed the importance of understanding and respecting the safety concerns behind the decision to abandon second practice for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Following limited running in a rain-hit first session -- which had to be postponed on two occasions because the medical helicopter was unable to operate -- the second session was abandoned on safety grounds as a result of smog and low cloud surrounding the nearest hospital in Shanghai, meaning the helicopter could not land.
Lowe insists that while the lack of on-track action was frustrating for Formula One teams and fans alike, it is crucial to understand the reasoning behind the decision to abandon the session.