Discussion
Kraken said:
I think going back to that rule would work now as they didn't have DRS before. There's no reason why a fast car should struggle for lap after lap.
But they demonstrably do struggle. Drivers complain on the radio "Where are the blue flags? I can't get close enough to pass". Or maybe it's just certain drivers who struggle...James Hunt on Rene Arnoux: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khA67-r5lSQ
James Hunt on Jean-Pierre Jarier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHS53krjxkg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e16fDASkcGY
The current blue flag system is a bit of a necessary evil. Yes, leaders should make there way through traffic but worth remembering that there were drivers Andre De Cesaris having notoriety for unwillingness to yield.
Imagine if Kimi or Bottas or even affilliated teams/drivers were a lap down with Hamilton/Vettel coming through? How far would a lapped driver go to or be allowed to block/hold up leaders? You'll end up going back to the current system more or less works; drivers are warned of quicker cars are going to lap you and given a chance to yield so you could effectively hold up a leader for a couple of corners.
James Hunt on Jean-Pierre Jarier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHS53krjxkg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e16fDASkcGY
The current blue flag system is a bit of a necessary evil. Yes, leaders should make there way through traffic but worth remembering that there were drivers Andre De Cesaris having notoriety for unwillingness to yield.
Imagine if Kimi or Bottas or even affilliated teams/drivers were a lap down with Hamilton/Vettel coming through? How far would a lapped driver go to or be allowed to block/hold up leaders? You'll end up going back to the current system more or less works; drivers are warned of quicker cars are going to lap you and given a chance to yield so you could effectively hold up a leader for a couple of corners.
Eric Mc said:
It's about expectation. They now expect back markers to leap out of the way when the leaders start coming through and get annoyed when they don't.
Yes.Traffic out on their own is one thing - a blue flag is not going to significantly mess up their race
Traffic engaged in their own close battle is quite another thing. It's the responsibility of a top driver to find his way past slower cars.
sparta6 said:
Alonso and Max seem able to get close and make passes almost immediately
Really? How often has Alonso had to pass back markers in the last 3 or 4 years? If at all. And Max has hardly had to pass many. Maybe once or twice.
Lewis found it very difficult to pass the other week, even with blue flags, because the drivers in front were racing each other and not giving space. Had they not moved at all I doubt he would have got passed, while at the same time Vettle behind made up 2 seconds. If the world champion, in the fastest car, in one of his best races all season struggled to pass a pair of back markets, what is the chance of many other people doing the same?
Condi said:
sparta6 said:
Alonso and Max seem able to get close and make passes almost immediately
Really? How often has Alonso had to pass back markers in the last 3 or 4 years? If at all. And Max has hardly had to pass many. Maybe once or twice.
Lewis found it very difficult to pass the other week, even with blue flags, because the drivers in front were racing each other and not giving space. Had they not moved at all I doubt he would have got passed, while at the same time Vettle behind made up 2 seconds. If the world champion, in the fastest car, in one of his best races all season struggled to pass a pair of back markets, what is the chance of many other people doing the same?
Condi said:
No, but if he cant get passed all you'll end up with is a train following a slow car. Nobody wants to see that.
Exactly right.Current regulations make a mockery of "racing".
Faster drivers should be encouraged and rewarded to have a do-or-die run up the inside of a slower car.
But, if they so much as touch now, it's flagged up as UNDER INVESTIGATION.
There is way too much to lose for drivers with daring overtakes to compensate for the crappy aero etc.
Blue flags per se are not the problem . Their purpose is to alert the slower driver to the presence , actual or imminent , of a faster car which is about to lap the slower.The problem is the absurd sense of entitlement which F1 drivers now have when catching a slower car , with demands for penalties , whingeing over the radio and the usual guff which characterises a race series in free fall decline unless it gets its act together. Starting with cars than can overtake - and not with silly DRS either
coppice said:
Blue flags per se are not the problem . Their purpose is to alert the slower driver to the presence , actual or imminent , of a faster car which is about to lap the slower.The problem is the absurd sense of entitlement which F1 drivers now have when catching a slower car , with demands for penalties , whingeing over the radio and the usual guff which characterises a race series in free fall decline unless it gets its act together. Starting with cars than can overtake - and not with silly DRS either
There’s no sense on entitlement, it’s the rules. F1 is different to other lower Formulea.
You “must” let lapping drivers past after passing 3 blue flags or face a penalty.
Exige77 said:
There’s no sense on entitlement, it’s the rules.
F1 is different to other lower Formulea.
You “must” let lapping drivers past after passing 3 blue flags or face a penalty.
Cause and effect. Those rules exist in F1 because of the moaning by drivers that they can't get by.F1 is different to other lower Formulea.
You “must” let lapping drivers past after passing 3 blue flags or face a penalty.
Kraken said:
Exige77 said:
There’s no sense on entitlement, it’s the rules.
F1 is different to other lower Formulea.
You “must” let lapping drivers past after passing 3 blue flags or face a penalty.
Cause and effect. Those rules exist in F1 because of the moaning by drivers that they can't get by.F1 is different to other lower Formulea.
You “must” let lapping drivers past after passing 3 blue flags or face a penalty.
It’s also the rules that make following and overtaking another slower car difficult.
When you see footage like this then blue flags are a must
Mark Blundell with a brain removed.
To think he is a race steward now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbtzabkwUQs
Mark Blundell with a brain removed.
To think he is a race steward now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbtzabkwUQs
ELUSIVEJIM said:
When you see footage like this then blue flags are a must
Mark Blundell with a brain removed.
To think he is a race steward now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbtzabkwUQs
Can you imagine the whining today by the usual suspect if that happened! Mark Blundell with a brain removed.
To think he is a race steward now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbtzabkwUQs
Well maybe if they stopped with sticking plaster solutions like the blue flag rules and DRS and actually addressed the fundamental issue the "sport" might go somewhere.
It will never happen though as the teams have far too much power and aren't the slightest bit interested in the show. Every time something is tried to sort out the aero issues it gets watered down or someone finds a loophole to exploit.
It will never happen though as the teams have far too much power and aren't the slightest bit interested in the show. Every time something is tried to sort out the aero issues it gets watered down or someone finds a loophole to exploit.
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