How does F1 prevent jumped starts?

I have always been curious about how the lights-out starting system works. It seems that it would lead to people trying to move before the lights in order to gain a faster start. In many other similar types of competition, there are lots of restarts when someone jumps the gun. I have not yet seen this happen in F1. Why not?

 

As hard as it is to pass in F1, jumping the start (and getting penalized as a result) would essentially ruin your race for the most part if you get sent to the back of the pack. The stewards WOULD catch it as well. They see everything (including things that aren't there as is the case with the Massa/Bourdais incident).

I wouldn't think anything special is done, it's just the drivers knowing it's a huge no-no and a race-killer should they do it.

 

There is no IF about it, they get sent back to the pack directly.

 

The last light turns off at random times, there is not set time, its at the starter's descretion (or its done by computer) therefore its impossible to guess when the light will come off, hence the lack of jump starts.

 

So maybe it was Ferrari's mistake to use that same system on Massa's pit lights? (But not tell him) -

 

I thought the cars all had sensors in them that linked to sensors in the track that can automatically detect a jumped start? I remember years ago there were a few jumped starts and drivers were given a drive-through penalty. Doesn't seem to have happened during the last few years though.

 

this is true.

Last time a jumped start occured was hakkinen in indianapolis in 2001 i believe. He's made a few actually!

 

I think Rubens Barrichello was given a drive-through penalty for a jump start at the Grand Prix of Brazil in 2007.

 

Jump start
When a driver moves off his grid position before the five red lights have been switched off to signal the start. Sensors detect premature movement and a jump start earns a driver a penalty.

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/glossary.html

 

Woo Hoo! My elderly brain remembered something!

 

Massa did this in 2006 at Malaysia,well he didn't exactly jump the start but when he went back to his position after the warm-up lap he didn't stop in his grid box.Pretty good result for him as he had to take a grid penalty for a new engine.I think he started 15th and finished 5th.Here's the pic
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=304664&d=1143290062

 

Fisi last jumped the gun 2 years ago. i think it was Canada.

 

...Coulthard jumped the start to get ahead of Schumi in Indi, so he could box him in and let mika through...Schumi squezzed in between both and led from then on...Coulthard was penalized...then Mika blew the engine on the straight...

Ron playing cleaner than clean as always...they always get a drive through for that

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UBrM7jzAUk