Should have the race been restarted? T Cars?

They got rid of T cars for cost reasons (they are quite significant, especially for lower end teams. The question if they should be in F1 if they can't really afford it is another topic all together).

When was the last time we saw a full on restart after a first lap collision?

2001 Spa with the burti crash? Surely it must have been more recent...?

 

No, the race should not have been restarted, but yes, T cars should come back. I've heard all the teams carry enough parts to put together a third car, but cannot have it preassemlbed because of the rules. So, all the rules do is cause a significant amount of work for the mechanics and don't save any money. There's no reason a third car should be available should one of the drivers write there's off in practice or quali. If some teams truly cannot afford to bring a third car, thats their problem and the other teams shouldn't be punished.


Mark

 

A restart would destroy the TV schedule and lose the audience.

 

Abolishing the tcar was a stupid idea...it´s bad for everyone.

 

I think that, as there is a time limit for the whole GP, the TV schedule wouldn´t be too much affected. Besides that, a 10 minutes delay do less harm to TV ratings than loosing two championship contenders in the first corner.

 

The problem with T cars is the engine lifetime regulations.

Imagine a race at the end of theseason where the team only has one engine left in operable order. Do they have to take the engine out of the damaged car and put it in the T car before the restart can happen?

What about the gearbox lifetime rules?

Yes, they should bring back T cars, and there should be some allowances for T cars with respect to engines and transmissions and tires.

 

From my dim recollections of restarts in years past, it took the better part of 30 minutes to stage a restart.

 

which driver would the Tcar be set up for? For Ferrari it would be Fred no doubt, but what about McL or RB? Some good debates could be had.

 

Can o' worms: Should they have put Alonso in Felipe's car?
(Like Fangio taking Collins' car in '56.)

 

+1

Sorry folks, they're not returning - Cost being the biggest reason.

Back in the day, there were two mechanics per car. Now, there's what? I'm gonna guess at least 8 guys per car (that we can see). Plus all the support equipment. Plus all the computers and attendant boffins.

For what? The *very* occasional incident like last week. OTOH, if they have 3 cars you know they're gonna run 'em all. Budgets would go thru the roof.

They're carrying almost enough bits to build two cars from the truck! [Anyone know if they carry more than one spare tub these days? Wouldn't surprise me....]

Yes, they can build a new car from parts overnight - No big deal. But it's done by the guys who's car is broken (with help from the other side of the garage if needed). But it then gets plugged into the existing support kit & engineers. Very different to supporting 3 running cars.

I'm gonna say you've got the rose-tinteds on. I'm gonna say a restart typically took at least an hour. And that was in the days before they had to be hooked up to numerous umbilicals & computers prior to being fired up.

Won't happen - The teams don't want it either. Consign the T-car to history and accept that **** happens on occasion.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Or, put Phils helmet on and gone for it!....

 

Alonso wouldn't be able to drive slowly enough to try and get away with that trick!

 

Yet they have no issues delaying races when it rains heavily... It was a 2hr delay for Canada last year. I somehow think people are more likely to hang around knowing their driver that was just punted out is still in the race.


It would be nice to see T-car return for incidents like this but that would mean changing the current engine/g'box rules and no longer giving out penalties if you change your engine/gearbox else it would be unfair.

Saying that I have to agree with Fast_ian the chances of T-cars returning is pretty low.

 

Heck, just have a Morris Marina warming up at the end of the pitlane, first in gets to drive it.

Either that or the pillock that caused the accident should drive it home for the week.