Discussion
The FIA said:
20.2 Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not.
A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.
Should a car leave the track the driver may rejoin, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.
A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110909A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.
Should a car leave the track the driver may rejoin, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.
A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason.
Why are the FIA not enforcing their own rules?
The Buddh circuit as been designed specifically for F1, and homologated as such. So why are they allowing the exits of corners to be abused here but not other circuits?
I don't believe for a second that there's no gain to be made from it, if there wasn't the drivers wouldn't be doing it!
Mr_Thyroid said:
Great topic. You post a link that explains the driver and official say there is no advantage, but you don't believe it, so we all just go around in circles banging our heads against walls until someone breaks their skull and dies.
Do you really believe there is no advantage? 
mollytherocker said:
Mr_Thyroid said:
Great topic. You post a link that explains the driver and official say there is no advantage, but you don't believe it, so we all just go around in circles banging our heads against walls until someone breaks their skull and dies.
Do you really believe there is no advantage? As Mark explains in the link it's bumpy, dirty and slippery and takes longer.
You must concede that there becomes a point where driving further takes longer.
In most racing it is the neat drivers who keep it on the circuit and do not kick up dust from the extremities of the circuit who are most successful.
I think it is also one of these things where Vettel (for example) drives inside the line for 57 laps but everyone remembers the 3 times he goes outside.
Them all doing it doesn't make it any less against the rules though.
The minimal extra distance is (probably) more than compensated for by the higher speeds they're able to carry through the corner and the more often they go off track in a certain place, the cleaner it'll get - so i'm not buying it.
Gary Paffett has recently posted about this on Twitter:
What a load of rubbish. You always gain by running wide!!
If you got a penalty for going off track you wouldn't drive so close to the limit and therefore go slower. End of story
If everyone decided to straight line the Nouvelle Chicane @ Monoco, would Charlie let that slide too?
The minimal extra distance is (probably) more than compensated for by the higher speeds they're able to carry through the corner and the more often they go off track in a certain place, the cleaner it'll get - so i'm not buying it.
Gary Paffett has recently posted about this on Twitter:
What a load of rubbish. You always gain by running wide!!
If you got a penalty for going off track you wouldn't drive so close to the limit and therefore go slower. End of story
If everyone decided to straight line the Nouvelle Chicane @ Monoco, would Charlie let that slide too?
I think i have worked out what is going on here.
The regulations clearly say that it depends on whether the driver gains an advantage. We know they do.
BUT can it be proven? All the team have to do is say that they have not gained an advantage and it is then on the stewards to PROVE that they have.
I am not sure that is an easy thing to do and even if they can, they cannot possibly investigate every single incident and put together proof that an advantage was gained, when they are all doing it.
Therefore, they have had to let it go.
The rule needs fixing. It needs to say that four wheels off the track is considered an unfair advantage and is illegal. There will need to be some wording around an allowance for avoiding accidents etc but its totally doable.
The regulations clearly say that it depends on whether the driver gains an advantage. We know they do.
BUT can it be proven? All the team have to do is say that they have not gained an advantage and it is then on the stewards to PROVE that they have.
I am not sure that is an easy thing to do and even if they can, they cannot possibly investigate every single incident and put together proof that an advantage was gained, when they are all doing it.
Therefore, they have had to let it go.
The rule needs fixing. It needs to say that four wheels off the track is considered an unfair advantage and is illegal. There will need to be some wording around an allowance for avoiding accidents etc but its totally doable.
I was at the Formula Ford Festival today and several drivers received time penalties for "not respecting the limits of the track". I found it really disappointing and anti-climatic to see the pilots drive hard and fair only to be demoted after the race.
I think 99% of F1 viewers will only care if the advantage is obvious, they realise that if any advantage is available it would be measured in hundredths or thousands and it's only a few pedants who are confused by the authorities pragmatism.
I think 99% of F1 viewers will only care if the advantage is obvious, they realise that if any advantage is available it would be measured in hundredths or thousands and it's only a few pedants who are confused by the authorities pragmatism.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff