FIA to back off on Formula 1 driver collision investigations

Ala Kimi going the wrong way in Brazil....

Couldn't agree more! I'm not trying to be facetious here, but trouble is, when does 'pushing the limits' become an excursion? Charlie defines the track edge as the white line. Putting two wheels over it is OK right now it seems. Four over and he's 'investigating'. Short of my silly spike idea, how do you stop the guy coming back?

There's no doubt they can keep them between the lines - Monaco being the perfect example of course. Except it's impossible to overtake there. And they're also silly slow.

I certainly don't have the answer!

Cheers,
Ian

 

How about a drop in elevation behind the white lines?
You can go over the edge but not up.

Coat the run offs in a goo that will compromise grip for a lap or two.


Turn them into large scale whoppie cushions. An off results in an embarrassing noise easily heard over the Hoovers that power F1 these days.

 

Take the example of the chicane at Montreal, the last corner.

If you make a mistake at the entry and miss you braking, you can shortcut it and rejoin the track without any penalty, as long as you didn't get a place in the process, of course.

But if you make a mistake at the exit and kiss "the wall of champions", you wreck the car it's the end of your race. So, accidents are still a risk, and solid obstacles acceptable.

I wish there was some consistency in this; an excursion outside the track should incur a penalty. To me, all these run-offs and short cuts make a mockery of the risks of racing.

Give the drivers an inch and they will take a foot; we already see that with the kerbs which are constantly jumped. They should also be made higher and less forgiving.

Call me a purist, but I am in favour of cleaner driving. Stewart himself commented recently that liberty were taken regarding the limits of the tracks, and that the new generation of drivers were not sanctioned for errors of driving.

 

The cars are designed to jump curbs. Not that long ago one of McLaren's biggest advantages was how well it worked the curbs. How twisted is that?

 

I doubt an embarrassing noise would curtail their behavior though!

Somewhat seriously, a drop in elevation can't work, and you know the reasons well!....

However, rather than goo, how about a 'slippery zone'? Something like, I dunno, a 6' wide strip of smooth steel plate. You *may* be able to get away with putting a wheel on it, but get all four on and you're going all the way over it! It won't slow you down or flip the car, but once you're over it you've got to follow dummy route to get out......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Make the sponsor signs on the cars electronic and turn them off for five laps for every off.

 

Or, dear ol' Phil was pilloried here for twice breaking his car on the curbs a couple of years back.....

Curbs (kerbs? ) have always been a part of racing. Some you can 'lean on', and improve your time. Others will mess you up & cost you time. Some cars handle them better than others.

Long may that continue!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Many drivers skipped the chicane once, and that is normally forgiven by the FIA, unless you're under attack (Rosberg wasn't).

Kvyat did it to Kimi whilst Kimi was alongside and Kvyat got to keep the place, THAT was odd.

 

Or at parc ferme, they must endorse their competitors' sponsors' product.

 

I like the way you think.

 

I was thinking the opposite. Go out of bounds and your engine has its power limited for a few seconds.

 

That works too.

 

They wouldn't jump many times the kerbs I have in mind !

 

Wouldn't a curb high enough to be unjumpable bounce a car back into traffic?