F1 cancelled this year?

[anonymous-user]

df76 said:

The BBC report is slightly more positive, but even if this is given the go ahead at the three week review time is running very short. Surely given the number of UK based teams it surely has significant repercussions for any events taking place?

F1 can't wait on that, they will plan around UK quarantine rules as they are today for the next couple of months at least.

We will probably see something along the lines of 4 weekend races on the trot then 3 weeks off blocks, unless the teams say they can run multiteam rolling staff.

That might be doable if they get rid of the overnight curfew and change parke ferme rules to allow smaller crew to run both cars.

[Durzel]

Am I missing something obvious here? It was Silverstone/F1 that proposed those dates. Presumably later ones could’ve been chosen but weren’t. They took a gamble that restrictions would be eased over here by that point, and that gamble hasn’t paid off.

Is there something stopping Silverstone/F1 swapping race dates around with another country where they would be able to run it, with the UK races being provisionally scheduled for a later date?

[anonymous-user]

Durzel said:

Am I missing something obvious here? It was Silverstone/F1 that proposed those dates. Presumably later ones could’ve been chosen but weren’t. They took a gamble that restrictions would be eased over here by that point, and that gamble hasn’t paid off.

Is there something stopping Silverstone/F1 swapping race dates around with another country where they would be able to run it, with the UK races being provisionally scheduled for a later date?

Nothing to stop that and probably the most likely outcome now.

The issue now is the other events staffing.

[Sandpit Steve]

Durzel said:

Am I missing something obvious here? It was Silverstone/F1 that proposed those dates. Presumably later ones could’ve been chosen but weren’t. They took a gamble that restrictions would be eased over here by that point, and that gamble hasn’t paid off.

Is there something stopping Silverstone/F1 swapping race dates around with another country where they would be able to run it, with the UK races being provisionally scheduled for a later date?

You’re not missing anything.

F1 are trying to plan a season with a whole bunch of unknowns, because they need reasonable lead times to actually stage events and schedule them into a coherent season. They’re trying to work with governments to facilitate events (and dare I say it, in some cases trying to bounce them into decisions), some of which will work out and some won’t.

Hopefully, F1, Silverstone and the UK Govt will all be amenable to another date or dates later in the year. If they can get four races (half a legal season) off in July in Austria and Germany, then pretty much everyone will be happy with that as a starting point.

[Fundoreen]

The dates are normally thrashed out to suit a load of fans at trackside. Hardly matters now even if the weather turns later in the year.
They could run any race anywhere right up to xmas or even in to the new year.
If they cant get sufficent races on with that flexibility there's something wrong somewhere.

[RDMcG]

Derek Smith said:

Anyone know where the F1 cancelled this year thread went to?

Come on, guys. Personal isn't the way to go. She's as entitled to her opinion (is she a she?) as any of us, and can, and perhaps should, post it. If I wanted agreement, I'd talk to myself. At least the arguments would be less frequent.

Agree completely

[Derek Smith]

vaud said:

TheDeuce said:

Brilliant!

Although watch the original now and it's very obvious the car wasn't going that much faster than the surrounding traffic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPoiKiMRFQ

Indeed. The dubbed soundtrack is obvious (but nice)

When I was in charge of driver training in my force, I arranged for the late Peter Gethin to take my guys out for a ride on public roads in a 4x4 Sierra. It was quite like that film, except for two important provisos: we didn't go quite that fast and it was much more terrifying. I mean, really scary. I've been out with Phil Keen in a Caterham 7 around the back ways of Farnborough. That was fast. That was fun. That put up my blood pressure. That did not make me think I was going to die.

I don't want to be controversial, but it seems F1 drivers, even ex, can really handle a car. But boy! they are dangerous.

We overtook into a closing gap when a tanker was coming towards us. I thought we were going to hit it and grabbed the FM handle to keep any glass out of my eyes. I seemed a good idea at the time. Heaven knows what the poor guy we overtook thought.

We went over a rise, on a gentle left bend, blind to any oncoming, with a lot of right lock. We went 'light', but Gethin had taken this into account and it went smoothly.

We stopped at a tea stop and the table was ever so quiet. Gethin was obviously pleased with himself, for the rest of us we were looking for somewhere to be sick. The front disc pads were spread all down the sides of the car. Some was embedded on the return under the wheelarch. It's one of those things that you are pleased to have done, but wonder why you did it.

[anonymous-user]

I save it for the track, had a few people throw their guts up after being in a car with me on circuit, one bloke couldn't walk for 15 minutes and had to be helped from the car after a fairly interesting lap of the Nurburgring. The vast majority are fine though as i'm a smooth operator. What i find steady, some think they are going to die. It's just what you are used to.

You can't say anyone will be mad on the road because of their racing exploits, some drivers are nuts, others drive like miss daisy until you show them the circuit.

Not sure what this has to do with F1 getting started though.

[TheDeuce]

Derek Smith said:

When I was in charge of driver training in my force, I arranged for the late Peter Gethin to take my guys out for a ride on public roads in a 4x4 Sierra. It was quite like that film, except for two important provisos: we didn't go quite that fast and it was much more terrifying. I mean, really scary. I've been out with Phil Keen in a Caterham 7 around the back ways of Farnborough. That was fast. That was fun. That put up my blood pressure. That did not make me think I was going to die.

I don't want to be controversial, but it seems F1 drivers, even ex, can really handle a car. But boy! they are dangerous.

We overtook into a closing gap when a tanker was coming towards us. I thought we were going to hit it and grabbed the FM handle to keep any glass out of my eyes. I seemed a good idea at the time. Heaven knows what the poor guy we overtook thought.

We went over a rise, on a gentle left bend, blind to any oncoming, with a lot of right lock. We went 'light', but Gethin had taken this into account and it went smoothly.

We stopped at a tea stop and the table was ever so quiet. Gethin was obviously pleased with himself, for the rest of us we were looking for somewhere to be sick. The front disc pads were spread all down the sides of the car. Some was embedded on the return under the wheelarch. It's one of those things that you are pleased to have done, but wonder why you did it.

I think an ex F1 driver must feel that 'normal' driving is in slow motion - so they can take a silly chance and if it goes pear shaped, in their brain, they have about a fortnight to figure out how to evade a collision

All back in the day mentality of course... These days, I doubt the entire grid has had so much as a speeding ticket most years. Then again, nor have I..

[anonymous-user]

Fundoreen said:

The dates are normally thrashed out to suit a load of fans at trackside. Hardly matters now even if the weather turns later in the year.
They could run any race anywhere right up to xmas or even in to the new year.
If they cant get sufficent races on with that flexibility there's something wrong somewhere.

Not sure UK would be much of a suitable venue after late October.

[TheDeuce]

jsf said:

I save it for the track, had a few people throw their guts up after being in a car with me on circuit, one bloke couldn't walk for 15 minutes and had to be helped from the car after a fairly interesting lap of the Nurburgring. The vast majority are fine though as i'm a smooth operator. What i find steady, some think they are going to die. It's just what you are used to.

You can't say anyone will be mad on the road because of their racing exploits, some drivers are nuts, others drive like miss daisy until you show them the circuit.

Not sure what this has to do with F1 getting started though.

I push it a little on b-roads with total visibility. But it's rare that you can 'know' there is no hidden danger on public roads, so it's very infrequent. Honestly the chances I see some people take are mind boggling - I can only imagine they're too stupid to realise they're taking a gamble in the first place, they must feel safe, they should not.

As a rwd road car driver, I do quite often give it a little nudge at low entry speed in to a corner just to unsettle it for the sake of playing it back in to line as I exit. Plenty of opportunities to exercise ones car control and appreciate what you drive without going particularly fast or putting anyone at risk.

I don't think I've exceeded 90mph on British roads since I turned 30 in fact. Before then my top speed was very much governed by the car, not my inner sense of responsibility..

[TheDeuce]

janesmith1950 said:

Fundoreen said:

The dates are normally thrashed out to suit a load of fans at trackside. Hardly matters now even if the weather turns later in the year.
They could run any race anywhere right up to xmas or even in to the new year.
If they cant get sufficent races on with that flexibility there's something wrong somewhere.

Not sure UK would be much of a suitable venue after late October.

Define 'suitable'. Normally, UK post summer is definitely not suitable. If Liberty are two races away from a championship and Silverstone is their option, they'll take it. Getting a season done to secure at least most of the rights money is all important, it will override all that is normal if it comes down to it I would think.

[Sandpit Steve]

janesmith1950 said:

Fundoreen said:

The dates are normally thrashed out to suit a load of fans at trackside. Hardly matters now even if the weather turns later in the year.
They could run any race anywhere right up to xmas or even in to the new year.
If they cant get sufficent races on with that flexibility there's something wrong somewhere.

Not sure UK would be much of a suitable venue after late October.

On the contrary, one big advantage for the (TV) audience of all the difficulties in arranging the the calendar, could be a lot more wet races than usual this year, and a not-insignificant possibility of a seriously cold race or two.

[defblade]

jsf said:

I save it for the track, had a few people throw their guts up after being in a car with me on circuit, one bloke couldn't walk for 15 minutes and had to be helped from the car after a fairly interesting lap of the Nurburgring. The vast majority are fine though as i'm a smooth operator. What i find steady, some think they are going to die. It's just what you are used to.

One supercar experience track day, I went out for the "get taken around by a proper racing driver in a proper track-prepped car" bit at the end. It was supposed to be 3 laps.
2 laps in, my driver commented that I seemed very composed. "Oh, I navigate on rallies."
It took him 7 laps to make me move, and that was just a little bracing against the door as the lateral G had finally exceeded the tightness of my harness

[MiniMan64]

Why are the double headers being planned as a week apart? Can they not be run during the week? Or across a weekend?

Is it a driver fitness thing?

[anonymous-user]

Sandpit Steve said:

On the contrary, one big advantage for the (TV) audience of all the difficulties in arranging the the calendar, could be a lot more wet races than usual this year, and a not-insignificant possibility of a seriously cold race or two.

These days they aren't going to run if the weather is too inclement and certainly not if it's going to be icy.

There's a reason there's little domestic Motorsport activity in winter.

Hopefully Silverstone can be scheduled for the autumn and a warmer climate pushed back.

[V8 Stang]

MiniMan64 said:

Why are the double headers being planned as a week apart? Can they not be run during the week? Or across a weekend?

Is it a driver fitness thing?

So you get 2 separate events.

Not many people would be hardcore enough to watch 2 GP's over a weekend, or time off in the week to watch.

[TheDeuce]

V8 Stang said:

MiniMan64 said:

Why are the double headers being planned as a week apart? Can they not be run during the week? Or across a weekend?

Is it a driver fitness thing?

So you get 2 separate events.

Not many people would be hardcore enough to watch 2 GP's over a weekend, or time off in the week to watch.

Also to allow the teams a reasonable period of time to address car issues in between race I would think. If Ferrari discover a major aero flaw on the first GP it's going to be a bit feeble them entering in to another race the next day with the exact same problem - could lead to a few foregone conclusions for the viewers and the championship.

Spreads the season out nicely for us too hopefully..

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Derek Smith said:

When I was in charge of driver training in my force, I arranged for the late Peter Gethin to take my guys out for a ride on public roads in a 4x4 Sierra. It was quite like that film, except for two important provisos: we didn't go quite that fast and it was much more terrifying. I mean, really scary. I've been out with Phil Keen in a Caterham 7 around the back ways of Farnborough. That was fast. That was fun. That put up my blood pressure. That did not make me think I was going to die.

I don't want to be controversial, but it seems F1 drivers, even ex, can really handle a car. But boy! they are dangerous.

We overtook into a closing gap when a tanker was coming towards us. I thought we were going to hit it and grabbed the FM handle to keep any glass out of my eyes. I seemed a good idea at the time. Heaven knows what the poor guy we overtook thought.

We went over a rise, on a gentle left bend, blind to any oncoming, with a lot of right lock. We went 'light', but Gethin had taken this into account and it went smoothly.

We stopped at a tea stop and the table was ever so quiet. Gethin was obviously pleased with himself, for the rest of us we were looking for somewhere to be sick. The front disc pads were spread all down the sides of the car. Some was embedded on the return under the wheelarch. It's one of those things that you are pleased to have done, but wonder why you did it.

Good tale Derek, to keep it innocuous one of my close relatives works very high up for a former WRC driver, he's often told how he's come close losing control of his bodily functions whilst on the road with him.

Same as jsf, I save mine for the track nowadays but I find it can often be passenger dependant. I can do the 'ring in around 8 mins flat but I think I'm very rarely inflicted with an ill passenger. I've followed the Jackie Stewart style of driving for as long as I can remember, I went through a couple of periods trying Senna's cornering technique but it never felt natural to me.

[Derek Smith]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Good tale Derek, to keep it innocuous one of my close relatives works very high up for a former WRC driver, he's often told how he's come close losing control of his bodily functions whilst on the road with him.

Same as jsf, I save mine for the track nowadays but I find it can often be passenger dependant. I can do the 'ring in around 8 mins flat but I think I'm very rarely inflicted with an ill passenger. I've followed the Jackie Stewart style of driving for as long as I can remember, I went through a couple of periods trying Senna's cornering technique but it never felt natural to me.

8 mins. Is there any queue for your spare seats? Impressive.

I'm normally ok if I've confidence in the driver. I was often radio operator on a response vehicle, this through the City of London. Once, I went into the northbound Blackwall Tunnel at speed in an S1 Rover. We were in pursuit of a stolen car, only an Allegro, but a 1500 and driven by a nutter. We'd stayed some way behind on the approach, so as not to spook him, but once the drop to the tunnel proper started, we closed the gap. The Allegro lost the back end on the first, sharper, corner. Bits fell off. My driver said, so laconically that he must have practiced in front of the mirror for days, 'Let's encourage him.'

Before the next corner, which was a bit gentler, he closed right up and gave him, he said, a nudge. The poor Allegro driver was braking for the corner.

Once through it, with some kerb marks on his tyres, he slowed, almost to a crawl. Once out of the tunnel, he pulled over into the slip and stopped by two PCs. We waited why he got out of the car. He'd wet himself, and steam was drifting up. He had the nerve to stick two fingers up to us, which only made it better. That was the fastest, subjectively, that I've ever been in a car. Blues reflecting from the wall, tyre noise, and bits of debris. What more could you want?

Now back to F1. Whenever.