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Previously on TheJudge13:
On This Day in #F1: 14th September 2008
Top-20 #F1 Constructors who failed – 8th March
#F1 Victims of Circumstance-gate: Monza 2014 – #ItalianGP
OTD Lite: 2001 – Zanardi suffers career ending accident
Pit-to-car radio – the subterfuge begins
Mansell – Mercedes will decide World Champion
Allan Mcnish offers the tifosi a glimmer of hell vs hope
Shock! Ecclestone duped the Circuit of the Americas officials
Red Bull’s da Costa admits F1 ‘dream’ over (GMM)
OTD Lite: 2001 – Zanardi suffers career ending accident
The F1 teams had arrived in Monza in a state of shock after the destruction of the World Trade Centre the preceding Tuesday. On this Saturday, many drivers heard the shocking news that a former contemporary of theirs had suffered life threatening injuries in Germany.
Alex Zanardi had been competing in the Lausitzring Indycar race when after his final pit-stop he spun as he exited the pits. His car was collected by fellow racer Alex Tagliani – the impact shattering Zanardi’s car and amputating his legs in situ. The medical crew saved his life despite him losing 5 litres of blood and he began a slow recovery with his wife and son as support.
Since his return he has completed the last 13 laps of the Speedway, competed in WTCC with BMW and driven a hand controlled BMW-Sauber. With the exuberance he demonstrated when winning Indycar races – he celebrated his later victories with donuts.
But perhaps a greater legacy than all his motorsport achievements was his victory at the Paralympics in London 2012. An Olympian in mind, body and spirit – this man proves continuously what an inspiration he is to everyone. Irrespective of the body – it is the heart that defines the person.
The Jackal
Pit-to-car radio – the subterfuge begins
In the latest FIFA World Cup, two new introductions changed the way that the historic game of football (soccer to our American cousins) was played. Goal-line technology which has been requested for years and the use of a disappearing foam in the event of free kicks both moved the game on.
These changes were implemented to solve a problem which the more opportunistic professionals pushed beyond the so called ‘spirit of the rules’. No longer will a referee or linesman be the decider of a potential goal nor an unscrupulous player to negate the advantage of a free kick against their team.
The recent decision by the FIA to implement changes in regards to the use of pits to car radio has elicited a response from all the individual teams as to their future use. Toto Wolff is decidedly underwhelmed by the decision stating that: “It is a complex and controversial decision that will require a major effort by the team to understand how we can work best with this new direction. The directive is not entirely clear and there will inevitably be some controversy as to what clarification will be used in essential procedures like for example before the start of the race.”
Of course this brings about its own problems in a team that professes to allowing their drivers to race but in at least two of the last three races controversy has followed ignored orders from the pitwall. It would seem that no longer will we hear the dulcet tones of the Leprechaun ordering his two young charges to heel…
Christian Horner believes that “drivers should be alone when they step into the car. Of course all information that’s needed for pit-stops and safety will be used but they do not need constant information as to where their team-mate is a tenth faster and what gear they are using. It makes no sense, for the drivers it is time to drive.”
Of course information will still be sent to the cars and displayed on their LCD screens but although Mclaren furnished every team with a new, larger display which contained new features – notably Williams, Lotus and Red Bull have not adopted it. As Lotus declared, obviously with Raikkonen in mind, “not all drivers like the constant communication. Some respond well whereas others do not want to hear any of this”
“Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing” said the Iceman in a moment of heated debate back in Abu Dhabi in 2012.
While Charlie Whiting has reiterated that Article 8.5.2 of the Technical Regulations expressly prohibits telemetry between the pits and cars, he would be naive to believe that the assorted teams will not devise a way to circumvent the rules. Eric Boullier in fact admits as much when he offered: “We will see a revival of encrypted dialogues which would necessarily be a little less obvious than Rob Smedley’s infamous ‘Alonso is faster than you’. I’m sure that saying the sky is blue will be a message and even if we are asked what it means I’m pretty sure codes will be used.”
Of course this means that the FIA have their work cut out to monitor every possible transmission but in 2014 whining of the type heard repeatedly by Alonso and Vettel at Silverstone has brought the situation to a head. The debut of 17 year old Max Verstappen has also likely seen the governing body decide to implement a tougher challenge which, combined with a look at the current Superlicence requirements, has shocked the overseers into reinstating F1 as the pinnacle of the sport.
It’s easy to look back and admire the racers of the past who left the pitlane and then for the next two hours raced, preserved their tyres and their car until the chequered flag – all without outside influence. But when Esteban Guitterez at the recent Belgian Grand Prix was told by his engineer that his tyres were ready to attack a drying track in qualifying – maybe it’s time to rethink what the sport should represent. These are after all amongst the best drivers of this generation – with the possible exception of Ericsson and Chilton.
Mansell – Mercedes will decide World Champion
With the preceding article in mind, 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell offers an interesting take on the developments within the Mercedes camp. He is of the opinion that Mercedes will decide the outcome of the winner of the 2014 drivers title – except now, any instructions will most likely be given prior to the drivers getting into their respective cars.
With radio transmissions banned, no longer will the international audience hear the drivers being told to drive to a delta, leave the attack for later on or simply ‘hold position’. Both Rosberg and Hamilton now know that the gloves are off.
After Monza, two independent sources from within Mercedes offered to TJ13 that instructions had been given to Rosberg in regards to his having to ‘gift’ a victory to Hamilton as payback for what was judged to have been his fault – or what the rest of the world calls a racing accident.
Of the remaining 7 races this season, it was inevitable that finding himself in front in Monza with a fast catching Lewis behind him, Rosberg decided to pay back as per the teams instructions and deliberately out-braked himself not once but twice, both times with barely a puff of smoke and straight-lining the chicane. The first time navigating and accelerating through as quickly as possible, the second a more conservative approach and a more leisurely application of the loud pedal – the difference? The second time it was his team-mate behind him.
Of course observers will claim that he made similar mistakes in Canada but each time he would use the painted tarmac beyond the white lines to maintain an advantage. In Monza, he took to an escape road rather than attempt to make the chicane. Whereas most other drivers avoided the the slalom through the cones preferring to clatter over the speed bumps of the chicane.
Mansell himself said: “Many people are wondering if Nico threw the race, but the only ones who would really know that is Mercedes and Nico. I do not know what the real answer is, but I know I would have tried to make the chicane.”
“Mercedes is one of the best teams but I have to think that they have allowed the situation to over-run them. It was intriguing to see their reaction after Spa. It’s an easy situation to deal with team-mates because no-one complained. The stewards, and I have been one, maintained it was a racing incident and as drivers you never ‘wash your dirty laundry in public’. But the teams reaction afterwards was surprising!”
“Lewis did a great job in Monza but it’s all in Mercedes’ hands. Ultimately the one who wins the title is the one they want to promote. It’s a simple thing to say but these two great drivers should operate as the team instructs them. I hope they let them race but if there are further repercussions then the team will take action…”
Allan Mcnish offers the tifosi a glimmer of hell vs hope
One of the trio of Celts that lend their opinions to the part-time production called the BBC F1 coverage, Allan Mcnish is also a three time Le Mans winner and effectively a poor mans replacement for the brogue of Gary Anderson.
In his column for the BBC he touched on a subject that TJ13 recently “put out there” about how damaging Fernando Alonso’s brilliance has actually proven to Ferrari.
“Marco Mattiacci has to find a way to convince Alonso to stay because it has become abundantly apparent just how bad Ferrari would have looked in the last few years without him. Now they are way beyond the point at which even Alonso can hide Ferrari’s shortcomings. If Ferrari lost the drive and determination of Alonso, that could only destabilise the team further.”
“In some ways, Alonso has probably lengthened the time it took Ferrari to realise how bad they were, by dragging them to fight for world titles and giving them results they did not deserve. But there is no doubt anymore.”
Of course, individuals with a little knowledge are a dangerous breed, or so the cliche goes and Mcnish proffers no argument against this view other than with further talk of how Ferrari’s sacking of Prost at the end of 1991 was “an incredibly bad decision” and how the current situation reminds him of “Ferrari in the early 90’s when run by Fiat management.”
Except that Fiat management had the foresight to also appoint Luca Cordero di Montezemolo to Ferrari in November 1991 and so began a turnaround.
“LdM’s departure gives them a chance to start again because there has been something fundamentally wrong with the team with Montezemolo in overall charge. In Alonso they have the Schumacher. Allison is a highly regarded design leader but the question remains as to whether Mattiacci can hold it all together.”
“He is highly regarded with parent company Fiat and has already made clear he knows it’s a rebuilding job for the future. I am interested to see if he can use his experience to turn the fortunes of the scarlet cars around in a similar fashion to Flavio Briatore in the early 90’s.”
Which would be a relevant point except Flavio made no secret he didn’t know anything about F1 or most importantly the global car industry. He worked for a knitwear manufacturer. Possibly the biggest clue about his ultimate potential came from none other than the Suffolk Toad who likened MM to when Jean Todt first joined Ferrari.
Shock! Ecclestone duped the Circuit of the Americas officials
Billionaires are generally accepted as supremely driven individuals. The likelihood of one making that sort of money does not suit an image of a peaceful, law-abiding citizen who helps old ladies across the road. It is also highly unlikely that any have achieved this level of extreme wealth without being ruthless when the need has arisen.
As to luck, it may apply that an individual becomes a millionaire with an invention but before reaching the heady heights of nine zeros beyond the initial digit they would have sold the company to a bigger corporation.
Bernie Ecclestone has achieved this position through consummate playing of governments and individuals throughout his career and has amassed as many admirers as he has detractors. With countries practically falling over themselves to taste the elixir of Formula One, many a white elephant has fallen by the roadside with dreams unfulfilled.
If the announcement of Mexico being on the 2015 calendar wasn’t disastrous enough for a circuit that relies on the huge numbers of Mexican visitors to show their support for the home drivers – news is emerging that Mr E may well have pulled off another hood-winking of naive government officials.
The San Antonio Express is carrying a story that suggests that money being paid to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas may be in jeopardy.
The circuit was intended to benefit from the Major Event Trust Fund (METF) which was established by Legislature to help Texas compete with other states to attract major sporting events. Critics have always been critical of the track’s eligibility both in Austin and outside the state capitol. No recipient of state support has been more controversial than the F1 project – especially given that Legislature has had to slash schools and social services to balance the budget.
The problem appears to be that the proper legal application may not have been in compliance with Texas regulations. Land Commisioner Jerry Patterson said, “The process was botched from the beginning … it was clear then and it’s even clearer now, the statute was not complied with.”
And an attorney for the state controller’s office said that even if a proper written application was not made, it is possible that “the application to Formula One Management Limited was oral, not written, so that a public information request would not elicit a copy.”
The headline figure of $250 million is what would be paid by the state over a 10 year period and to date COTA has received funds amounting to $60 million dollars. The 2013 race weekend brought more than 250,000 people to the track which in a property tax appraisal was valued at more than $296 million but the fear of the organisers is that with the newly announced return to Mexico many of these visitors will evaporate.
(sourced from (GMM) with TJ13 comment)
Red Bull’s da Costa admits F1 ‘dream’ over
Antonio Felix da Costa has admitted his F1 “dream” is probably over. Last year, the young Portuguese was the cream of Red Bull’s driver development programme and apparently destined for a Toro Rosso debut in 2014. But just as da Costa’s Formula Renault 3.5 campaign faltered, Red Bull decided instead to pluck teen Daniil Kvyat straight out of GP3.
Perhaps bolstered by the success of its daring choice, the energy drink company has now controversially decided to put 16-year-old Max Verstappen into F1 next year straight from F3 and karts. In the meantime, Antonio Felix da Costa is acknowledging that his F1 dream may be over.
“At the start of the season I had hoped still to go into formula one,” he told Speed Week. “But although I am only 23 and it’s a bit young to give up a dream, I had to decide what to focus on, and that is DTM,” da Costa said. Still with Red Bull backing, he has raced a BMW in the premier German touring car series this year, scoring only 4 points so far.
But he insists that seeing first Kvyat and now Verstappen race ahead of him into F1 is “not hard” to cope with. “I enjoy DTM very much and from the beginning it has gone well,” da Costa said, “so I have decided to concentrate on this. If I was to spend ten years here, I would be happy,” he insisted. “This is my goal.”
“Max is a very, very good racing driver, and I could not have achieved at 16 what he has achieved. He is clearly a special talent,” said da Costa. “At the same time I am very sorry for Carlos Sainz jr,” he added. “He was developed by Red Bull, they invested a lot in him, and he is now ready for promotion to the premier class. I hope he gets the chance and that we will see Max and Carlos on the grid next year.”
In the meantime, da Costa is focusing not only on DTM, but also the all-new Formula E series, even though a clash last weekend meant he had to sit out the season opener.
TJ13 comment: ‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.’ Henry Ford
It’s such a shame that da Costa has failed to make an impact and his career is effectively over at just 23 year of age and… enough!
This is insane. A talented driver has been picked up and sponsored by the voracious appetite that is Red Bull but he is living a pampered life and he is racing in Formula E and DTM. How many potential stars has the sport missed out on because of funding issues or ‘lucky breaks’. Back in the 1970’s and 80’s, if you lucked into Marlboro sponsorship early on, you were practically guaranteed a run at F1 at some stage and it was what you made of your opportunity.
The biggest problem ultimately is that this guy is quite obviously not a strong mental character if he has ‘given up’ on his dream already. Formula One would have destroyed him and it is likely that for all his undoubted ability Helmut Marko could see that too. For every driver that makes it to F1 there are probably 100 who have failed.
“Of course observers will claim that he made similar mistakes in Canada but each time he would use the painted tarmac beyond the white lines to maintain an advantage. In Monza, he took to an escape road rather than attempt to make the chicane. Whereas most other drivers avoided the the slalom through the cones preferring to clatter over the speed bumps of the chicane.”…
Actually many observers wouldn’t “claim” that he made similar mistakes in Canada, it’s an actual fact that he did, so there’s nothing to claim in that regard. Also Canada is not the only place he has made that very same error.
The time he lost with his trip down the exit road, was almost identical to that of his first trip. He was 4+s ahead, give or take a few tenths, when he got to the next timing zone, his lead was 1.8s. Even so, he was only .5 in front when he locked up, so even if he had tried to go any faster, he still would’ve come back out in 2nd.
I could be wrong, but the only driver who actually went over the speed bump, was Bottas and that was when he was deemed to have be pushed off the track by Kmag.
“I could be wrong, but the only driver who actually went over the speed bump, was Bottas and that was when he was deemed to have be pushed off the track by Kmag.”
You are wrong, as usual. A lot of drivers clattered over the speed bumps. Bottas, Räikkönen, Perez. Just to name a few.
Hence why I started my comment that way, because I wasn’t fully certain. But thank you for the correction, if I’d call it that.
Tsk Tsk Mansell, don’t be so delusional and paranoid. I’ve decided NM isn’t credible anymore.
😉
Heartbreaking, SIS, heartbreaking! 😉
Seriously, though, there ought to be some rules whereby ex drivers only get five working days to think up their reactions…
Hi JoJ mate,
Yeah interesting point. But would it have matter had Mansell, for example, overtly suggested or subtly insinuated this view in the immediate aftermath ala Stewert, Maylander, Ricciardo, McNish etc.
Would it change any hearts and minds that can see no wrong in anything Lewis does, has done, will ever do, or has been associated with? Nah.
The thing about NM though is he is a relatively favourable Lewis voice, he’s just schooled in the realities of driving, F1 and is brave enough to called it as he see’s it, even if it’s subtle to avoid litigation.
Anyway… it’s how it is.
Take is easy mate. Peace.
With now 2 sources revealing Nico got to give it back, I’d share what crossed my mind earlier: Nico was a lone Wolf at Monza. I think the first one was a genuine mistake which brought the possibility to his attention. He acted by himself, hence the wry smile from Toto.
Nico Has the psychological advantage in general. But. If he continues to be boo-ed at, he might loose that. With Ricciardo in the wings, merc can’t afford to put all their cards on one of them.
Would agree, first was a genuine boo boo. Rosberg’s engineer informed him he locked all 4.
W/R/T the weaving, CW required it of all drivers skipping the chicane, unless they were pulling a Kvyat. Was in Event Notes IIRC.
Yesterday I asked you if the pitboard is a part of the ban on communication, wellIt has now been confirmed, pitboard messages are also banned.
“Nico Has the psychological advantage in general.”
I suspect that is no longer true. Lewis has the momentum back behind him now, regardless of how he got it.
Did anyone else think Wolff was smiling like he’s set up something that was going how he just wanted it?
I’m not sure how I think of it, but it was that mind of knowing smile, somehow some plan was going just right for him..
Did Lauda not say anything at all about this?
I know I’m dumb, but anything Lauda had to say didn’t get as far as me.
I so feel Toto W is playing games, just can’t think of anything not a bit wild, and not linked somehow to settling some internal strife I’m not aware of. I think he’s been playing both sides of whatever ploy it is.
Who glued da Costa’s hand to his forehead?
Dr. Helmut Marko
Who thinks Bernie will listen to Toto’s comments about fans turning away due to high ticket prices?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115879
Nobody off course… that argument is far too logical for Bernie to even think about considering the changes that are needed to fix it 😉
Everybody knows that even if there was somehow a way that could prove that 95% of all people that stayed away stayed away because of the ticket price Bernie would find a way to use the 5% as a way to keep the ticket prices. There is no way that Bernie is ever going to voluntarily reduce the price tracks have to pay to host a F1 race (and thus how much a track asks for a F1 ticket).
Actually one of the few things you *will* here is the dulcet tones of the Leprachaun. According to FIA FAQ interview, team orders will be allowed over radio, strat modes not so much.
Which brings up the fascinating possibility that one or both Merc drivers might blow up an engine in the event they wind up outside their planned strategy due to spin etc. Could be true for Williams etc as well.
This may be behind Wolff’s “concern”.
I’m interested how quickly the pit radio matter got ruled on.
I just can’t imagine it is not going to suit someone at MB …
Anyone actually seen the details of what is banned on the radio? Go check it out on here : http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/09/15/f1s-radio-ban-full-details-of-what-is-and-isnt-allowed/
May as well ban the bloody radio altogether…F*cking hell….
Yeah well maybe that ain’t bad. If they say f1 has become too easy, this is one way of making it more difficult. And after all there where times when radio contact wasn’t possible in the past. Or when a radio failed. And they knew how to race in those days so why won’t it work now?
Now we know what’s permitted and disallowed, what are the penalties if a team it driver breaks the rules?
Will it be a warning for the first infringement?
Stop go/time penalties etc?
It would be nice to know that as well.
No weather information?
As in no “river at turn five” at Brazil, or some place you can get drainage problems, or showers causing actual danger?
Can’t much if this, like state of charge, be just out on the “dashboard”?
I didn’t know this, and I may be wrong, but I just read that McLaren seem to supply the communications and related kit on the steering wheel.
To clarify, are displayed messages right out, also?
Can. the displayed communication be changed / customized without restriction?
Can they “encrypt” messages some other way?
Will we get to hear infringing radio chat, so we know if there’s a penalty, what it was for?
“Nico, you know, the other week, you know, before your wedding… Lewis has something to say to you..”
“It’s okay, Toto got the joke”
“Fernando says he’s still faster than you”…
“Slalom time!”
“Kimi, well, you know this is not a call about your driving..”
“Hello, this is Bob from FedEx, I left the package you ordered form Brembo at the garage next door..”
Oh dear, dear, dear. The FIA are shooting themselves in the foot, yet again. Making a rule that is neither black nor white but so grey that it will cause untold misery, claims, counterclaims and a rule that is also virtually impossible to police. Either ban radio communication between pits and driver, totally, or keep it as it is. Personally, I really enjoy hearing the messages on the radio. What will be the penalty if this new rule is disobeyed and how will it affect the outcome of a race?
What will break the rule? Informing a driver of debris on the track could be taking away the skill required as a driver to drive according to the conditions. The same could be said if there is a slow car ahead. But, surely safety is paramount.
And do the FIA really think the teams wont find a way round it? And wont that make the driver’s life more complicated than it already is, trying to remember all the different “codes”?
Or perhaps they will be given lessons in Morse code or Semaphore and there will be pit crew stationed at the end of the straights with flashing lights or flags.
This is another backward step in the sport. Anything that improves the racing and informs the drivers how to do better can only be good, apart from the entertainment of messages such as “Yes, yes, leave me alone, I know what I am doing”. 🙂
This interpretation of article 20.1 creates open season for all kinds of bizarre regulations
However, after looking at the list of what is and isn’t allowed it seems that most of your concerns about safety are addressed.
It isn’t as bad as I feared. All of the things that are allowed they already do anyway and, excepting the first point about not communicating “Sector time detail of a competitor and where a competitor is faster or slower”, almost all of the things not allowed (and there’s only 18 of them in total) are ‘stream-of-consciousness’ techno-babble instructions from pit to driver on how to micro-manage all the different elements of the car. Exactly the kind of drone that makes many casual, and regular, viewers glaze-over and, to my mind, represents how corporate and un-engaging the sport has become.
If the cars have become so easy to drive then maybe the drivers need the extra challenge of having to deal with in-race issues with their car themselves.
And I’ll be glad to hear the back of transmissions where a race engineer instructs what gear to use, or where to deploy ‘Kers’, or when to wipe your arse.
Having said all that, it’s the last point, “Any message that appears to be coded”, which is the one that’s going to provide all the fireworks and nonsense.
This has “shambles” written all over it. Expect some toys coming out in the next few races…
“the Suffolk Toad”?
Bernie Ecclestone
Mercedes reserve driver…….hmmmmm the plot thickens.
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/9471665/DTM-star-appointed-Merc-reserve-driver
What are the odds on him getting a Friday practice session in Hamilton’s car by the end of the season?
He could get the first 30 mins in FP1 when they are given the extra set of tyres.
In the interests of being balanced, can TJ13 reveal how many Mercedes insiders informed it that Rosber cheated in Monaco Q3?
Pathetic and twisted reporting with third rate “sources”.
Desperate, very desperate. Traffic stagnant at the moment?
you don’t need insider info to prove something that was as blatant as the situation in monaco….
Well, multiple independent sources are multiple independent sources. Better than the latest crap spewing from certain folk formerly known as team principles.
This whole new interpretation of the communication regulations have got me very worried. The impact of this is far and wide. It will effect different teams in different ways, most likely impacting one or two of the larger teams in more ways than the rest. Which teams, and whether it effects them in positive or negative ways, is anyone’s guess, but we do know one thing. Teams that are not running the new steering wheel will be at a major disadvantage.
Williams
Reb Bull
Caterham
Without the digital display on the Steering wheel, these teams will have no way of relaying the relevant info to the driver. Here is a short list of info the driver may need to monitor:
Tire temperature x4
Tire pressure x4
Brake temp x4
Spring load x4
Brake pressure front
brake pressure rear
ICE temp
Turbo temp
Intake pressure
Intake temperature
Exhaust pressure
Exhaust temperature
ERS-H Temp
ERS-K Temp
ERS-H Batt Charge rate
ERS-K Batt Charge rate
Batt Discharge rate
Batt voltage
Gear #
Speed
RPM
Fuel load
Fuel pressure
Fuel % per lap
target lap time
That’s a lot of bar graphs.
These were all things the pit would monitor, and then tell the driver to make setting changes or driving style changes, to help control. Now the driver has to keep an eye on all of that, plus probably more things I can’t even fathom.
Oh, by the way s/he happens to be driving a car at speeds in excess of 200 MPH while doing this.
So the driver will be spending significantly more time looking at the steering wheel, instead of at the race track, and the other cars around him. Besides this not being very safe, it also will cause the driver to miss potential passing opportunities, or the braking point for a turn, etc.
If the FIA’s real intention is to “make the driver drive the car”, this seems to have the opposite effect.
But I guess Williams, RB and Caterham won’t have to worry, as they have no display. They will just drive the cars blind until the PU explodes, or the car runs out of fuel.
The most dangerous part of the whole situation though, will be at the starting line. We will likely see many more of the cars have bad launches. The potential for a horrific accident if one of the lead cars stalls out, or leaves really slow, will dramatically increase. If I wanted to see accidents, I would watch NASCAR.
I am worried.
What’s to prevent a local Bluetooth readout to a earpiece, answering to verbal commands for data, when the driver is ready? Or HUDs?
Thinking about it, I’m a little surprised heads up displays have not gotten into helmets already. I see no reason why, except that with the tech available, you could probably go as far as overlaying best racing lines and braking points..
Sometimes I think we should just allow all the technology.
Just not for every race. Make some races “non championship” where everything within reason can be tested. HUDs with racing line and braking point overlays might be a real boon to ensuring rookies learn fast. Just take away the stabilizer wheels when racing for points.
Actually, re making some races non championship, but allowing all technical aides, I would not be against going back to the same track, later in the year, for a real race, without aides.
It’s a real question, how easy driving a F1 car is, or has become. I think part of finding out, would be to have this switch, between aides and no aides. Well, it really shows me up, when I play a computer racer sim…
No possible connect in to usefulness in road going normal cars? I’m not so sure. Say it’s wet, and the car computer could use local LIDAR, plus GPS, mapping, even information broadcast from other cars… and display the safe line for my speed .. I would use that feature.
Just the other day, I thought I was speculating that local LIDAR or other imaging could unload suspension to prevent jarring by stones or potholes on the road. Then I read the latest Mercedes S-Class brochure… it’s a standard feature. Weight is important in F1, but a 1999 spec workstation computer fits on a SD card now, why not help prevent punctures from cf debris?
or just make the cars with broader tolerances and robust enough so that, for example, you can’t overcook brakes. Almost all of the items on the list are due to the modern nature of cars that aren’t even able to start without the oil and hydraulics at the correct temps because the pistons wont even move unless the cylinder casing metal is expanded enough.
Yes, the teams could build the cars robust enough. The problem is that this years cars were designed around the fact that they can communicate the information to the drivers over the radio. to accomplish what you describe, the cars will need to be redesigned. But, oops, the teams are not allowed to redesign the cars mid-season due to the regulations. Changing the rules mid-season is only going to increase the risk of accidents, PU failures, etc. Is that what we want?
AS far as I can see, all this change is going to do is make the drivers drive the cars as conservatively as possible. SO no more over taking, slower top speeds, reduced cornering speeds, etc.
I thought the reason we have all this technology in the cars is to make them go faster?
The argument I keep hearing is that the cars are too easy to drive now. Isn’t the point of all of the technology to make the cars easier to drive, so that the drivers can go faster? Every moment spent by the engineers for the last 50 years has been in an effort to make the cars more stable, and hence faster. the easier the car is to drive, the faster they can go.
So the end result of all of this is that the cars will be driven slower.
Why not just put speed limiters on them? That’s the F1 we want?
So now teams will have to transmit the feedback encoded in Morse code to drivers through a vibrator placed between his buttocks. Everyone will lose from this.
Except for the driver!!! : )
OK. Here is my biggest rant ever 🙂
cutting out all the jibber jabber could certainly make the need for many real time dozens of computers/engineers/headsets/World feed monitors, etc. in the pit (and at the factory) redundant, wasteful, and useless. “sorry, we don’t need you anymore” is VERY sad for the individuals and their families, but can be just the kick start the FIA need to unilaterally reduce team budgets by many multiple 10’s of $ millions.
maybe do away with all but say 1 dozen sensors of choice. non transmitting / non data gathering sensors – for use solely by the driver. choose yer weapons, boys:) again, no room-full of data geeks analyzing terabytes of data 24/7. just a dozen mechanics/engineers doing their thing until the next race… and drivers capable of reaching hero status!
and all those functions available on the yokes? sorry, but the Team should decide the ONE single best engine mapping / differential setting / tire pressure etc. strategy for the entire race. ya give and ya take and compromise. sometimes ya win. mostly, ya lose… OK, maybe I will minimally bend a wee bit on brake bias and anti-roll adjustments for new vs old tires / high vs low fuel load.
I wanna see a “gas man”. not some radio / PR guided geek “finger boy” winning races – I am not referencing Seb and the single finger for victory here:)
seriously, I sorta somewhat a little bit followed IndyCar for the first time since the heyday when Cart ruled and F1 was just a bunch of whiny little spoiled emasculated bitc**s with over-hyped lack of talent. oops, did I even go there? 🙂 yeah. u bet I did!
I have been massively critical of this current clown IndyCar series. a series that has so much potential if they can ever get their head outta their arse. sound familiar? u bettcha.
tying this all together for some – consider a RACE WINNING successful and financially viable IndyCar team competed all season long (was it 20 races?) with SEVEN employees! owner, secretary, PR/sponsor co-ordinator, transport driver, engineer, mechanic, race driver, janitor, travel guru, and a hundred other functions handled by merely 7 people!
true. they do not have to design/engineer/build cars and parts, but they gotta buy ’em, tear ’em down, rebuild, paint & sticker, transport, test & set up, refuel and change tires, develop race strategies, etc, etc… hmmm. 7 people to win a pretty quick open wheel race vs 600+ geek drones and massive international Corporations/BOD/greedy shareholders/ineffectual organizations with poor results??? fill in the blanks. with only 2 winning teams so far this year, there are 9 ineffectual and incompetent and TOTALLY inconsequential teams. hmmm.
maybe 4 to 5 thousand direct employees plus contacted biz “partners”, huge International sponsors with hundreds of millions of Worldwide shareholders – all with narry a clue nor a hope and a prayer.
an amazing business plan IMHO…
BTW:
Honda left F1 with a fairly garbage engine
Honda has not exactly taken it to Ilmore Chevy in IndyCar
IMHO, Honda will re-enter F1with a very sore arse and multiple $ Millions in PR bull****.
Why don’t you stop beating around the bush and tell us what you really think…
I kid, of course, but I agree with a few points. In particular, I agree with your comment re: the amount of people required to get two cars to the track and run them. They quote numbers like 500 and 1000 employees, like its a good thing, like they are supposed to be proud of it, likes it’s a competition of grand organisational size. Well McLaren and Ferrari have won that “grand ppl no’s” title for years… It all just a sounds horrendously wasteful and unwieldy and if I know one thing about business in a general sense it’s the wage/salary costs and associated costs, are where the hidden financial waste lay, and it’s also where the biggest financial rewards can be made from a tightening up crew…
A true cost saving from the FIA would actually be to truly limit F1’s registered employee contracts to any team to 150, for example. That ongoing fixed cost saving would multiply significantly on the balance sheet and result in improved liquidity amount the teams. The cars would be the same. The racing the same.
The grammar and spelling is exceptionally bad in the above comment. Sorry. I used an iPhone. English is indeed my first language, though you wouldn’t know it from reading above.
Presumably this directive also covers the system which sounds beeps in the drivers’ ears to tell them when best to change gear? If so, good!