Rules clarifications (possible spoilers)

Rule #1 - If you are Lewis Hamilton, don't worry about the following rules. We will help you in any way we can. This includes letting only you back in the race after you went into the gravel and could not get back on the track under your own power.

 

I have an actual question with regards to the tire rule. Can somebody clarify what is supposed to happen if it rains? Is it automatically a free-for-all when it comes to tires in these situations?

I think this is a rule that has to go. Why wouldn't they be able to run the best tire for the given circumstances? If a soft tire is faster, why can't they use it the entire race?

 

He was the only one who's engine was still live, wasn't he? Davidson managed to get back on his own, but Sutil, Speed and Liuzzi lost their engine power didn't they?

 

It is not only a matter of whether the engine is still running, but whether the car can get back in the race under it's own power. In this case, the marshalls moved the car back on the track. That does not seem like it should be legal. See rule #1 for clarification.

Peter

 

The commentators in German TV, among them ex-driver Christian Danner, said that the marshals decided to do what they did because his engine was still running and thus putting him back on the track was the quickest and safest way of getting him out of the gravel.
What I really wonder about here is:

a) Why aren't the marshals allowed to push a car out of the gravel when lifting it back is no problem?

b) What did they think when they lifted the car up with the driver still inside? Those forklift tractors they use aren't the most sophisticated part of machinery under the sun, I'm sure they aren't scrutineered concerning safety issues with much time and effort, imagine some heavy chain dropping on the driver or something like that!

c) Why was Hamilton's engine still running in the first place? Where I am involved in Formula car racing, the first thing to do after a crash is to push that red button which cuts out every electric device in the car, especially the ignition and the fuel pumps. Sitting around in a car that might be damaged to an extent you don't know, not being able to move the car with its own power, while letting the engine run is really really really dangerous! Imagine some fuel line is damaged or whatever, ask Niki Lauda how nicely fire suits an F1 car, even in todays time... Hamilton should rather get penalized for not shutting off his engine than being lifted back on the track!

 

I was wondering why the crane went straight for Hamilton? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they already knew he was the only one with a still running engine. But, I think it's a little unfair that he was the first one to be helped.

 

Those engines are really loud even in idle, so determining which engine is still running is no problem

 

So, yes, once a set of intermeds or wets go on, the hard/soft rule goes out the window.

 

I would not have minded them lifting them all onto the track if able to run.
As it is now there are not enough cars in the field, let alone a contending one, to be picky about who to let back into a race.

Glad to see the workers making bold decisions.

PS if one is worried about lifting a 1200 lb car by its impervious roll hoop while inside then pehaps one should consider accounting rather than race car driving as a profession

 

+1

 

LOL.

If a guy who's been hurtling at 200mph in the rain is worried about being dropped 6 feet by a clumsy crane operator, maybe he is in the wrong job!!

 

Not sure about point A and B
C. Hamiltons car kissed the tyre wall he must have had the foresight to realize his car was n t damaged and if he kept his engine running he may be put back in the race. however I didnt think he could have been craned back in but if its legal so be it for the good of racing

 

I'd be more worried about what kinds of potentially burning fluids might be dripping from a running car that just went off-roading.

The "General Prescriptions" state that the marshalls can "assist" a driver in moving a vehicle "from a dangerous position" -- it doesn't state the method: push, crane, or teleporter. The same section talks about removing the car "from the track" as quickly as possible.

So the gray area is designating that side of the gravel pit a dangerous area -- which might have been met when Liuzzi tagged the crane.

The regs do permit cars stopped on the course to be brought back to rejoin the second part when "a practice" is separated into two parts -- but it doesn't mention when a race is separated by an interval in between.

Good thing it was a cold rain -- that was a long time for an F1 engine to run without ram air flow.

I wonder if he was in "four cylinder" mode.

For those who'd like to dig into them, the FIA F1 (and associated) regs are here: http://www.fia.com/sport/Regulations/f1regs.html

 

Probably in the habit of "saving the engine", due to the two weekend rule. But most of them were on the second race.

But I'm not so sure Spyker or STR can afford to just say "bugger the engine".

Especially since we haven't seen that level of "assistance" in resuming the race ever before.

*Those* are the radio calls from Ron that I'd have liked to have heard.

 

I remember Schumi being pushed back on course by the marshals a few years back. They said at the time the marshals could assist if the car was running. Hamilton was the first tire into the barrier that could still run. They probably were going in the order the cars entered the trap.

 

The Hamilton crane stunt is complete BS. The marshalls should've rushed up to his car and yelled at him to turn off his engine. Well at least he didn't score any points, but I'm sure Fisi isn't too happy about this.

Another thing I didn't understand was why there was no checkered flag when the 2 hour limit was reached, which was just as Massa entered sector 3 still in the lead. If you're gonna make rules enforce all of them, don't pick and choose.

 

I for one am glad they let them race even if it cost my team big time.

If somebody was ahead by 30 seconds no big deal.

Most exciting racing we've seen all year.

Phil's wheel may have been vibrating because FA "ran his car into Phil's right front tire." LOL

Like NASCAR it's all about the show.

I am afraid that FIA will ban McL. My solution is to make them start at the back of the grid for every race that McL had the SF data and did not tell either SF or FIA. that way we will see their cars and they have a chance to score some points. It's about racing after all. A ban cheats the fans and sponsors and drivers IMVHO.

LET THEM RACE

FORZA FERRARI!

 

It's a bit iffy putting a car back on course with a tractor, but I'm guessing the tractor crew thought the full course yellow gave them enough margin to pull it off. We don't rush up and yell at drivers to shut off the engine unless there's no chance of getting the car moved. With other cars abandoned and Hamilton's engine still running you know you've got a driver willing to be helped.

'06 Canadian GP: Montiero punts Albers off at the hairpin and they interlock wheels. We've got one Kubota an two cars, but since Montiero's still got the engine running I grabbed the left front wheel and rolled the car forward and back, steering it as well (the driver was no help at all) until he could continue. Now the Kubota only has to make one trip. If you weren't there you didn't see it (but it is on youTube).

Regarding Hamilton's lap back: when he was put back on track he caught up to Winkelhock who was behind the safety car. When the red flag came out and the cars were parked on the grid McLaren mechanics moved Hamilton's car to the back of the field. Were they trying to save the trouble of the wave around or trying to save a lap of fuel? Whatever, the rules (Sporting Regs 40.12) state "any lapped cars which were between the cars running on the lead lap at the time the safety car was deployed... will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car... and take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car."

 

I missed that, now it makes sence.