Canopies for F1 cars?
Discussion
I'd hate to see enclosed canopies on F1 cars. An open cockpit helps define what an F1 car is.
Although some additional safety might accrue from enclosing the driver, there will be additional problems created in driver extraction - especially if the car is upside down.
If all the suggested safety features were added to F1 cars, such as enclosed tyres, enclosed canopies etc, you end up with something like this.
Although some additional safety might accrue from enclosing the driver, there will be additional problems created in driver extraction - especially if the car is upside down.
If all the suggested safety features were added to F1 cars, such as enclosed tyres, enclosed canopies etc, you end up with something like this.
Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 20th July 09:53
Life Saab Itch said:
Brabham tried canopies over the drivers in practice for the 1967 Italian GP.
indeed they did.http://i51.tinypic.com/wl7p86.png
Eric Mc said:
I'd hate to see enclosed canopies on F1 cars. An open cockpit helps define what an F1 car is.
Although some additional safety might accrue from enclosing the driver, there will be additional problems created in driver extraction - especially if the car is upside down.
If all the suggested safety features were added to F1 cars, such as enclosed tyres, enclosed canopies etc, you end up with something like this.
Im sure the team would love some of these rules to come in. it would allow them to design sleaker and therefore faster cars. Although some additional safety might accrue from enclosing the driver, there will be additional problems created in driver extraction - especially if the car is upside down.
If all the suggested safety features were added to F1 cars, such as enclosed tyres, enclosed canopies etc, you end up with something like this.
Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 20th July 09:53
My idea for making F1 'better' would be random 5 min massively reduced sections of the race. Basically the race control could picky back of the current system and 'turn off' everyones aero at random points in the race. Obviously you would have to activate at safe points on the track (the pit straight) and let the drivers know (big signs).
Chris.
The Costin Protos F2 car used a canopy to good effect as well.
It's very difficult to argue against progress on the grounds of safety. Personally I'd sooner the general look of the single-seater evolved to include enclosed cockpits if it means we never have a repeat of the accidents which befell Massa and Surtees. Aesthetically, I struggle to enthuse, however.
It's very difficult to argue against progress on the grounds of safety. Personally I'd sooner the general look of the single-seater evolved to include enclosed cockpits if it means we never have a repeat of the accidents which befell Massa and Surtees. Aesthetically, I struggle to enthuse, however.
Unfortunately I've always thought this would be a matter of inevitability... but maybe decades or more down the line.
As a traditionalist I don't like the idea, but safety happens, now that car fires and rescue are so much better there is not so much need for a driver to quickly hop out of a car anymore, so complete cockpits can happen.
As a traditionalist I don't like the idea, but safety happens, now that car fires and rescue are so much better there is not so much need for a driver to quickly hop out of a car anymore, so complete cockpits can happen.
chevronb37 said:
It's very difficult to argue against progress on the grounds of safety. Personally I'd sooner the general look of the single-seater evolved to include enclosed cockpits if it means we never have a repeat of the accidents which befell Massa and Surtees. Aesthetically, I struggle to enthuse, however.
Very well said, I concur entirely.
That F16 canopy getting a wheel and tyre chucked at it was impressive. And if the cars looked more like the Newey design for Gran Turismo and not like a Le Mans racer, I'd be ok with the look. How would a quick release for the canopy work, as a car is not always going to be the right way up in open air, it has to work upside down, or buried in a tyre wall like Kovalainen in the McLaren at the Spanish GP a few years ago?
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