The great cockpit debate; 'discussion' this Friday....

Not a fan.

 

Leave as is, please, but I understand the drivers are asking for it. I suppose they will prevail. All this brought about by the Bianchi incident which should not have happened anyway. The day of cars controlled from the pit wall or more likely the engineering center gets closer....

 

I'm pretty sure I saw on Autosport.com that the drivers are supporting some type of additional cockpit protection, but can't find it just now.

As to Bianchi's accident I have taken the unpopular position that at least some of the blame is on driver error. Although my only frame of reference is the video recording of the crash, it appears to me that he was carrying far too much speed into the corner, thereby causing the loss of control. I am more than prepared to be proved wrong if there is some evidence of mechanical failure or another car pushing him off track, or some other extraneous cause.

 

Agreed, Jack and Ian, this gets my vote.

One link to a Wurz comment/interview about GPDA wishes:

Wurz: Head protection and better tyres - PlanetF1 : PlanetF1

Until we remove the drivers from the cars, they will never be 100% safe.

And even if we run the cars remotely I am sure Maldonado will find a way to crash into someone with his remote...

 

Leave it as it is.
Agree on the Bianchi crash, he was going too fast at that point and that farm vehicle should not of been there.

 

Yes, there are too few people, especially in the sport, who are willing to say the truth. The fact is that the impression of total safety that these cars and circuits now give, even if false, tends to make the drivers take more risks, thereby making it less safe. Think back decades ago....no drivers would have engaged in the contact that happens routinely now, simply because the potential consequences were lethal. Now drivers get away with a lot more. Except when they don't.

 

Me neither. Leave it as it is.

But if the safety nuts come out again and insist that something must be done, then I rather have this over an enclosed cockpit. I don't want F1 to become WEC.

 

Spending millions to build and crash test undestructable cockpits and emasculating legendary tracks in the name of safety and then leave the head of the driver exposed is like a cocaine addict doing yoga.

Something has to be done, IMO. But that thing is plain ugly, I´d prefer some kind of glass canopy. It would need windscreen wipers though, and that would look a bit ridiculous in a F1 car.

 

Anything involving a canopy gets a thumbs down from me: There will be reflections of light and you won't be able to see who is in the cockpit.

Besides: I want the drivers to be exposed to the elements. Otherwise they might as well add A/C to the cockpits.

 

looks dangerous
a large structure in front of your face can't be good

 

+1

 

I agree....something has to be done....but what?

 

Is that really going to protect the driver? In an accident like Jules, I can only think that upright bit would be firmly planted into his face.


Mark

 

Boats have them,Planes have them,sports cars have them. Indy car and F1 need them so what's the problem. Cockpit covers have been figured out decades ago. Just get it done. Nothing new and untried going on here. Just copy and standardize a design.Too tough for the designers? Then use a steel tube sprint car setup. GTS Bruce

 

Not a fan.

Jules' accident was tragic. Action has been taken (no ****ing heavy vehicles on an active track!).

We have a million miles of run off at each corner, ever improving walls that absorb impacts, super strong cars.

This would work well on ovals, so perfect for indy car where accidents like Justin Wilson's are much more likely. Cars there are generally contained to and on the track, with cars approaching at enormous speeds still.

With F1, most accidents happen at lower speeds, cars are generally off the track. When F1 cars do tangle on track, it's at much lower speed than indy car.

 

The FIA will have to have some tight regulations on the shape of that cockpit safety cage - Otherwise teams will start to design them for aero purposes more than safety!

 

I am sure we have the technology to do this. But as a fan I want to be able to see the helmet of the driver and not just a reflection of light in the canopy. Once I can no longer see the driver the sport is too remote for me to care. I dont give a damn about closed car racing, which a canopy would be. It would be the end of F1 for me

 

Thanks. I am always stunned when people want to make safety the #1 priority. If that were the goal then just run the car on remote control. The excitement about F1 is a mix of tech/talent and risk. Remove the risk and you might as well watch battle of the robots instead.

I dont want to see blood but one freak death caused by a head injury in 20 years is not worth such a dramatic change.

 

Is there really a problem that actually needs to be fixed or is the FiA looking for something to justify their existence?
Should we add a cockpit to MotoGP?

 

IF they decide to go to closed cockpit, or better head protection, that thing designed by Adrian Newey on the Playstation is the best bet, and best looking.

 

Exactly.

People die from all sorts of accidents, many in their home.

There is no need for change.
Pete