How much say should the drivers have?
Discussion
I get the impression from the telecast that race control listens quite closely to the teams and drivers when making decisions like this morning's decision to delay the race.
Curiously once the race was green flagged there were no abnormal issues - it was just a pretty typical wet race.
With all due respect to the drivers' safety and judgement I've then come to the conclusion that the drivers and not rain or track surface are the reason why we didn't get a full race today.
There's non-race related issues like the track design too where they seem to be able to stomp their feet and have a kerb or corner modified instead of steering around it. Now I see on Autosport that they want more say in future rules via the GPDA.
At what point should the organisers be a bit more autonomous and tell the drivers to nick off and if they don't like it they can do a Prost-Adelaide-89?
This goes not just for F1 but for WRC too where there's a fair share of whining that isn't coming from a straight cut cog.
Curiously once the race was green flagged there were no abnormal issues - it was just a pretty typical wet race.
With all due respect to the drivers' safety and judgement I've then come to the conclusion that the drivers and not rain or track surface are the reason why we didn't get a full race today.
There's non-race related issues like the track design too where they seem to be able to stomp their feet and have a kerb or corner modified instead of steering around it. Now I see on Autosport that they want more say in future rules via the GPDA.
At what point should the organisers be a bit more autonomous and tell the drivers to nick off and if they don't like it they can do a Prost-Adelaide-89?
This goes not just for F1 but for WRC too where there's a fair share of whining that isn't coming from a straight cut cog.
It might not have been a full race but it was great ! full of drama and suspence.
I think the drivers should have a say but i wouldnt think they pay too much attention to them as each driver will have a different view depending on what suits them best, like the redbulls saying it was too wet and lewis saying its nearly inters weather.
It was the right call at the end of the day for that track with the surface and walls to think about
I think the drivers should have a say but i wouldnt think they pay too much attention to them as each driver will have a different view depending on what suits them best, like the redbulls saying it was too wet and lewis saying its nearly inters weather.
It was the right call at the end of the day for that track with the surface and walls to think about
We only really heard front runner radio transmissions as they're of most interest to the TV audience, but I bet there was a lot more we didnt hear from the other drivers which Charlie also took into account.
Im sure he also realises certain drivers at the front had obvious alterior motives when asked about the track condition etc, ie the Red Bulls would have probably preferred it to be stopped with half points being in P1 and P2, whilst Hamilton knew he needed to score big points to keep the championship alive so wanted to risk racing, so perhaps took more notice of the feedback from experienced drivers with less of a championship axe to grind, drivers like Kubica, Schumacher, Heidfeld, Trulli and Kovalainen etc.
Im sure he also realises certain drivers at the front had obvious alterior motives when asked about the track condition etc, ie the Red Bulls would have probably preferred it to be stopped with half points being in P1 and P2, whilst Hamilton knew he needed to score big points to keep the championship alive so wanted to risk racing, so perhaps took more notice of the feedback from experienced drivers with less of a championship axe to grind, drivers like Kubica, Schumacher, Heidfeld, Trulli and Kovalainen etc.
"How much say should the drivers have?"
With the somewhat entertaining radio transmissions of the race, it is clear drivers should always have zero say. If conditions are personally considered to be that bad they can always do a Prost and refuse to race. Nothing is stopping them retiring.
Sport requires impartiality. Impartiality is created through dictatorship. Though the dictator must have his head screwed on... The competitors having a say in how a sport runs is ludicrous, although apparently that's never stopped F1 before...
Can you imagine if two football teams had a say in whether to abandon or start a match, especially when a league was to be won by one and lost by another? There'd be riots.
With the somewhat entertaining radio transmissions of the race, it is clear drivers should always have zero say. If conditions are personally considered to be that bad they can always do a Prost and refuse to race. Nothing is stopping them retiring.
Sport requires impartiality. Impartiality is created through dictatorship. Though the dictator must have his head screwed on... The competitors having a say in how a sport runs is ludicrous, although apparently that's never stopped F1 before...
Can you imagine if two football teams had a say in whether to abandon or start a match, especially when a league was to be won by one and lost by another? There'd be riots.
indigorallye said:
Seb was moaning about the light yet he had a medium visor on. Surely his choice of equipment is his call, and by his own admission he made the wrong one.
Has a driver ever changed visor/ helmet mid-race?
Has a driver ever changed visor/ helmet mid-race?
As it happens in the good old days yes - here we have Jo Siffert borrowing Graham Hill's visor at Rouen in 1968. GH's Lotus had retired with driveshaft failure, Jo's visor was misting up so he stopped out on the circuit to allow his team mate to do a quick visor transplant.
Probably be a $5 billion fine from the FIA these days...
Edited by moffspeed on Monday 25th October 20:34
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