So how many times has it happened this season alone? You see the little “SC” at the top of your screen and you know that any second now you will see that sexy Mercedes CLK 63 AMG burning round the track to take its place in front of the race leader to bunch up the field. Oh the anger caused, the disappointment of drivers, that bet goes out of the window, the face of the full race is changed in an instant.
Over the last couple of weeks especially, it has been used extensively and last week it was at the centre of attention sparking much controversy over whether or not it should even have been out in the first place?
So at the beginning of last year the rules were changed. The problem was that drivers were racing to the pits as quickly as they could at the announcement of the safety car being deployed so as to limit time damage to their race. Get the pit stop in straight away and then prevent having to stop again after the safety car. This meant that cars went all out full speed under yellow flag conditions, which is the exact opposite thing you want the cars to be doing under a safety car period.
So the rule was put in place to close the pit lane at the point of the safety car deployment being announced, this method was already in use in Indy racing and NASCAR and it was effective.
HOWEVER... If the driver was just about to come to his pit stop time anyway due to low fuel, he had a big dilemma to face: either pit in under closed pit lane and get a 10 sec penalty for that (in other words throw away his race) or staying on track with a heavy risk of running out of fuel.
The penalty for drivers if they refuel under safety car is a drive through penalty which usually takes about 20 seconds out of a lap or a 10 second stop/go penalty and considering the field is bunched up due to the safety car being out, the driver is as good as last in the race with either of these punishments.
I honestly believe that the rule would remain unchanged until the end of the season if it wasn’t for the farce that was caused at Canada due to the SC. The long and short of it is as follows:
Because of the position of the pit lane in Canada being where it is, the cars rejoin the circuit on corner 2 rather than corner 1 like it does on most GPs. This cuts out a big section of the circuit and consequently the cars can be pitted in, refuelled, tyres changed and then out before the SC and the rest of the field has cleared the end of the pit lane. Hence the red lights being on at the end of the pit lane causing drivers to bunch up in 2 rows at the red light.
This was missed last year by Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella and they were both black flagged (Disqualified). This year, Lewis Hamilton ploughed into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari after not seeing the red light and ending both of their races instantly.
So now, finally, it has been said that the rules will be modified and such changes could actually take effect as soon as next weekend's race at Magny-Cours, round 8. It won’t be trialled on the race itself, it will be put through its paces in the practice session and if it is deemed successful, it will be implemented for race day should a safety car be required. Whether or not you see it as an improvement will remain to be seen, so leave your comments in the usual way, and let’s have a mass debate. Ha ha.
The SOLUTION
The idea is to stop the cars drag racing it to the pits to get that vital stop in before the pit lane closes, this is dangerous and is the whole point in having the SC. So when the race director deems it necessary for the SC to be deployed, race control will send a message to the driver instructing them that the SC is on its way out. Then the driver will have to acknowledge the message to activate a program, which will set an engine speed limiter on the cars ECU (Engine Control Units). This will basically work the same way as the pit lane speed limiter where it will stop the car going over a certain speed until the SC is brought back in.
So, this means that the pit lane theoretically shouldn’t be closed and the drivers can access it but they will be under speed limit control.
The DISADVANTAGES
Let’s say for example a driver who may not be as honest as his peers claims he doesn’t see the message so does not acknowledge it. therefore not activating the limit immediately like everyone else. The honest driver is doing 100Kmph and the nasty driver is steaming along at 200kmph and steals a place. Will there be a time limit in which the drivers must acknowledge the message to prevent this?
Even with this new system in place the fundamental problems are still lurking, in Canada the cars would have potentially been going even slower, thus the red light still being on at the end of the pit lane anyway, no change there.
The system is still going to disadvantage a driver who is stuck behind his team mate unless is it confirmed that the pits will be open for the full period under speed limit?
So what do you think?
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Will it work?
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Is this system going to be the radical change that we need?
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Will it cause more of a hindrance rather than solving the issues we have?
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What other suggestions would you make?
OR...
After all is said and done do we really like how the system is working right now and it’s just been a few bad examples that have made it seem that the full system needs to be re-assessed?
Do we like the way that a SC brings that element of randomness into races that make the teams really earn their bread as they frantically try to re-jig a race strategy in around about 20 seconds flat?
Tell me what you guys think, comments and ratings please.
Ben, Over and Out!
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3 months ago
put simly, it won't work. it's too complicated for a start, and cars will lose places to drivers who can easily say they didn't see the message early enough. jeez, hamilton would win every time if he can't see a big red light. haha.
it's plain silly. the current rules are great, because the race is unpredictable. everyone moaned about the races been predictable right from the get go. now that they're not, they moan.
is there no pleasing these people?
of course, the rules are great when their driver wins, but as soon as he retires, they're shite.
what would be interesting is drivers with lees than a lap of fuel can come in and fuel up. therefore, the problem would be solved. but of course, the races would be predictable. the order in which the leaders come out is evidently obvious.
just leave them as they are now. let the big teams suffer for once.
then again, if ferrari kick up a fuss, they'll be changed in an instance.
from 3 months ago
I think the current rules are great ... I think that the teams should be able to prove that they need a re-fuel and then they can come in for that re-fuel but they cant rejoin in their previous position and they are not allowed to change tyres whilst in pit lane ... Would that work ?
I think its good how a race can be turned on its head in an instant just because of a SC but this needs to be consistant and the safety car must only be deployed if absolutely neccesary ... Like Nico Rosbergs barrier crash at Monaco, no doubt about it ... That was a SC ... Adrian Sutils wheel fire last week in Canada, no way on gods green earth was that a SC and it took them 3 laps to think about it aswell ... So it needs to be consistant ... Is it a double yellow flag or a SC ?
I agree with what you say though ... You watch Ferrari disagree or want something changing and then u see the big boys jump then and change it all to suit them ! Not fair really ... This is a sport and all teams should be treat equally ! Makes me so angry !
3 months ago
another note, this year's safety car is the new SL63 AMG. The new CLK63 won't be released till next summer.
i would rather see my dream car, a CLS63. so sexy. not often sexy and mercedes go together. unless it's hollyoaks ur talking about :)
from 3 months ago
Do you know what ... This is the only thing I doubted about the article ... As you know I wrote it at 2:30 this morning so I wasnt fully aware of my surroundings ha ha ... I initially had SL63 AMG wrote in and I wasnt 100% sure so I looked into things further and if I had just left it .. Then it would have been right ... Oh well ... Minor detail !
3 months ago
The problem this race was that with five cars literally on top of each other, they were all trying to get the drop on each other. Honestly, what it looked like to me was that Hamilton's brakes were just too cold and didn't do the job. The "real" answer might be to prohibit passing in the pit lane, period. And if two cars are side by side, the car which entered the pit lane first gets right of way. That would be somewhat ungainly but that might work better than some nonsense confirmation thing.
Or a better answer could be this: Charlie Whiting notifies the teams BEFORE the safety car is deployed, and allow them on that lap, and possibly the lap afterward, the ability to enter the pits. This would prevent the incredibly narrow window that the current setup creates and prevent the crazy pileups that the cars and the crews cause.
from 3 months ago
I think that prohibiting passing in the pit lane could work yes BUT to allow first driver in right of way could be very wrong due to faster pit change, faster pit crews and position in the pit lane ... All of these factors taken in could mean a car waiting in pits for the priority car to go through and then thats not racing ... I think a quick well worked pit stop is all part of race plan ... Just look at the 3 stopper by Lewis in Turkey ... The pit crew where amazing ... If I recall not a single pit was over 7 seconds ?
3 months ago
I don't think the race officials could predict when the Safety Car was going to be deployed, how can somebody predict an accident? (Unless you're watching Nelson Piquet all afternoon!) I think the best way to manage things is simple. Deem the rules effective and the accidents and problems have just been a part of a learning process or bin the current rules for the old rules. Those were okay anyway, the change wasn't too necessary in my opinion. This new system is way way too complicated and open to abuse isn't it? If drivers open their eyes and teams use those radios they pay so much for then the current rules should work fine.
from 3 months ago
Yeah I agree completely ... I think old rules are fine and this new system will be abused by your Fernando's and Kimi's ... People who will blatently take full advantage of not acknowledging the message immediately !
3 months ago
When Champ Car existed, we had the same problems as this...Being penalized for pitting when pit road is closed was also a difficult choice of ether starting from the rear of the field or just running out of gas.
Most notably this came into play was during the 2005 Molson Indy in Toronto where leader Paul Tracy had a fit, after being asked to stay out because of the pits being closed. He then ran out of gas going into turn one, while leading the race.
In that scenario, the worst case for any of the drivers was that they had to start at the back of the field.
If F1 management still want to close the pit lane, this is a better option then the 10 second stop and go penalty. The drivers will have more of a chance to pass cars and make up ground on the restart then getting three laps to make up 30 seconds before taking the unwanted stop and go penalty.
P.S. Remember the days when there was a stop and go penalty countdown sign at the end of the pit lane. They should bring that back, instead of relying on the teams as they don't show any form of countdown during the penalty.
from 3 months ago
Yeah I must agree with you ... You never seem to see anyone with a stopwatch ... Lets have it at the end of the pit lane monitorred by race control on a big LCD display ... Above all though this wouldnt be needed if they can get this news system to work ... I guess this is going to be a transitional thing and if it works then great if not then back to the drawing board !
from 3 months ago
Yes the FIA had its eye on Champcar (RIP!) over the years and lifted these rules right from it and a lot of others too, including the option tyre idea and many more!
The Safety Car rules made Canada the race it was. You had faster, lighter cars stuck behind heavier one stopping cars and it provided for some cracking entertainment.
Yes, it is unfair if the Safety Car happens to come out when you need to pit, but it is the same for everyone, suck it up and get on with it.
Maybe that is the big difference between F1 as is and Champcar that was, the F1 teams will whine until they get their way, but the Champcar teams knew it was better for the fans so just got on with it, rules are rules.
Regarding this limiter idea...I would NOT like to be stuck near a train of cars when they all put on their "safety car limiter" at different times. Sounds like a way of causing MORE accidents than preventing them.
FIA, see sense and change nothing!
from 3 months ago
Sounds about right ha ha !
3 months ago
It should only be necessary to drive slowly past the scene of any incident so why not have the driver activate the speed limiter at the first double yellows and deactivate it at the subsequent green flag.
The speed limiter flashing light would show the marshalls it was in operation at the required time. The pit lane would not need to be closed and cars would still be at racing speed for most of the lap.
It is only an electronic alternative to what the drivers themselves should be doing under double yellows anyway.
from 3 months ago
Ohhhh ... Liking that idea ... That could work but again it could be difficult to police to an exact point on the track because say if 1 driver activates / de-activates 1 / 2 metres earlier or later then it is an unfair disadvantage ... Great idea though Pete !
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