Is the safety car start, the beginning of the end?
Discussion
Don't be silly.
Just because a circuit is damp does not mean the race can't go ahead,. If they were monsoon conditions, there might be good reason for postponing the start until conditions got better - but to crawl around behind a saloon car for 6 laps on a wet (but not soaking) track is not motor racing. As I said on the "proper" Monaco GP thread, these rolling starts behind safety cars are nothing to do with "safety". They are purely to ensure then race starts at the time stipulated by the TV contracts.
The correct solution is, if it is considered too wet to race - don't start the race.
Just because a circuit is damp does not mean the race can't go ahead,. If they were monsoon conditions, there might be good reason for postponing the start until conditions got better - but to crawl around behind a saloon car for 6 laps on a wet (but not soaking) track is not motor racing. As I said on the "proper" Monaco GP thread, these rolling starts behind safety cars are nothing to do with "safety". They are purely to ensure then race starts at the time stipulated by the TV contracts.
The correct solution is, if it is considered too wet to race - don't start the race.
Eric Mc said:
Don't be silly.
Just because a circuit is damp does not mean the race can't go ahead,. If they were monsoon conditions, there might be good reason for postponing the start until conditions got better - but to crawl around behind a saloon car for 6 laps on a wet (but not soaking) track is not motor racing. As I said on the "proper" Monaco GP thread, these rolling starts behind safety cars are nothing to do with "safety". They are purely to ensure then race starts at the time stipulated by the TV contracts.
The correct solution is, if it is considered too wet to race - don't start the race.
I agree with you, Eric. However, you are also right with your views of the current establishment and their contractual obligations. It has to be a monsoon before they delay the start.Just because a circuit is damp does not mean the race can't go ahead,. If they were monsoon conditions, there might be good reason for postponing the start until conditions got better - but to crawl around behind a saloon car for 6 laps on a wet (but not soaking) track is not motor racing. As I said on the "proper" Monaco GP thread, these rolling starts behind safety cars are nothing to do with "safety". They are purely to ensure then race starts at the time stipulated by the TV contracts.
The correct solution is, if it is considered too wet to race - don't start the race.
Given that, we're going to see starts behind safety cars.
I'd have much preferred a dry start to allow Ricciardo to make the gains associated with his strategy and pace in qualifying.
Also, one of the great spectacles of Grand Prix racing is and always has been the massed start and charge down to the first corner. It is really upsetting for everybody, especially those who have paid not insubstantial amounts of money to attend the event, when that exciting moment is wiped out purely because of the requirements of sticking to a fixed start time for the benefit of TV schedulers.
Eric Mc said:
Also, one of the great spectacles of Grand Prix racing is and always has been the massed start and charge down to the first corner. It is really upsetting for everybody, especially those who have paid not insubstantial amounts of money to attend the event, when that exciting moment is wiped out purely because of the requirements of sticking to a fixed start time for the benefit of TV schedulers.
What a silly thing to say. Without TV money, F1 would be nothing. These are the conditions they raced in at the Nurburgring 24 hrs this weekend. One of the best races ever which had 1st and 2nd finishing 5.7 seconds apart after 24hrs of racing.
I know open wheel racing is more dangerous, but does it have to be? Make the cars safer and let them drive.
Or just watch sports car racing because it's better anyway!
I know open wheel racing is more dangerous, but does it have to be? Make the cars safer and let them drive.
Or just watch sports car racing because it's better anyway!
C70R said:
Eric Mc said:
Also, one of the great spectacles of Grand Prix racing is and always has been the massed start and charge down to the first corner. It is really upsetting for everybody, especially those who have paid not insubstantial amounts of money to attend the event, when that exciting moment is wiped out purely because of the requirements of sticking to a fixed start time for the benefit of TV schedulers.
What a silly thing to say. Without TV money, F1 would be nothing. Eric Mc said:
You say that as if you think F1 is BETTER because of TV money. F1 would not be "nothing" without TV money. It would be "something" - something different and perhaps even something better than it currently is. I don't think F1 magically turns really good just because pot loads of money is thrown at it.
Well it's way more accessible for the vast vast majority because of TV. That's the main thing. Even if the race tickets were cheap as chips the maximum potential audience without TV would be circa 200,000.
This thread certainly wouldn't happen, or the fortnightly official thread.
For the common or garden Motorsport fan - It is a good thing, maybe not for the anti-social hyper nerds like those round here - but we can either jealously guard the way things used to be, or let everyone else play.
TV brings more benefits than evils.
Vocal Minority said:
Eric Mc said:
You say that as if you think F1 is BETTER because of TV money. F1 would not be "nothing" without TV money. It would be "something" - something different and perhaps even something better than it currently is. I don't think F1 magically turns really good just because pot loads of money is thrown at it.
Well it's way more accessible for the vast vast majority because of TV. That's the main thing. Even if the race tickets were cheap as chips the maximum potential audience without TV would be circa 200,000.
This thread certainly wouldn't happen, or the fortnightly official thread.
For the common or garden Motorsport fan - It is a good thing, maybe not for the anti-social hyper nerds like those round here - but we can either jealously guard the way things used to be, or let everyone else play.
TV brings more benefits than evils.
Safety car start was fine, no problem with that.
What I do have a problem with is that despite it being very clear that it would be possible to go racing they leave the safety car out to plod around until a dry line appears and drivers are on the radio moaning.
There is no point in the full wet tyres, they never get to use them.
They are big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves, let them race. It should have done 2 or 3 laps and then pulled in.
What I do have a problem with is that despite it being very clear that it would be possible to go racing they leave the safety car out to plod around until a dry line appears and drivers are on the radio moaning.
There is no point in the full wet tyres, they never get to use them.
They are big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves, let them race. It should have done 2 or 3 laps and then pulled in.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff