Official 2022 Spanish Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[TypeRTim]

I thought the drone footage looked like an early 2000s webcam compared to the rest of the coverage in UHD. Found it very frustrating compared to the normal heli shots.

[TheDeuce]

carl_w said:

TheDeuce said:

Based on Sunday it looked as if the drone wasn't allowed over the track itself, which seems like a compromise given their use in other series. I've no idea why not, they're incredibly safe. It might be that it was under manual control which isn't as safe - but even then if the operator hits the abort button they'll move back a predetermined path back to the landing spot.

Not sure but here in the UK, Motorsport UK's drone policy prohibits overflying "the competition course (track or stage), assembly areas, spectator/public areas, paddocks and service areas"

Interesting. I'm not surprised as people will worry about what could go wrong.. but in reality they're safer than most would assume and in time I think it's inevitable they'll be allowed more freedom to operate at most venues.

[TheDeuce]

TypeRTim said:

I thought the drone footage looked like an early 2000s webcam compared to the rest of the coverage in UHD. Found it very frustrating compared to the normal heli shots.

But you've also no doubt seen endless stunning 4k drone footage in feature films and not even realised.

F1 chose to introduce the use of drones in a very compromised fashion - for whatever reason.

[vaud]

TheDeuce said:

carl_w said:

TheDeuce said:

Based on Sunday it looked as if the drone wasn't allowed over the track itself, which seems like a compromise given their use in other series. I've no idea why not, they're incredibly safe. It might be that it was under manual control which isn't as safe - but even then if the operator hits the abort button they'll move back a predetermined path back to the landing spot.

Not sure but here in the UK, Motorsport UK's drone policy prohibits overflying "the competition course (track or stage), assembly areas, spectator/public areas, paddocks and service areas"

Interesting. I'm not surprised as people will worry about what could go wrong.. but in reality they're safer than most would assume and in time I think it's inevitable they'll be allowed more freedom to operate at most venues.

Even a 1kg drone landing on a driver who is doing 200mph could have fatal or life changing outcomes. Ask Rubens B. See Tom Pryce.

There is no need for them to overfly the track, however good the safety interlocks, etc. It adds risk where for little benefit.

[ch37]

It was really strange, the more I think about. 100% the operators were under heavy restrictions on flight path, but the quality (both of the footage and the flying itself) were so shonky.

I assume top end drone operators would be falling over themselves to work with F1.

Sure if it's a trial to manage logistics, safety, data transfer and incorporating the footage into the live feed etc, but if so, just keep it to FP1 for a few races or so.

[TypeRTim]

TheDeuce said:

TypeRTim said:

I thought the drone footage looked like an early 2000s webcam compared to the rest of the coverage in UHD. Found it very frustrating compared to the normal heli shots.

But you've also no doubt seen endless stunning 4k drone footage in feature films and not even realised.

F1 chose to introduce the use of drones in a very compromised fashion - for whatever reason.

Oh yeah, Drone footage can look absolutely stunning. This Drone footage however...

[TheDeuce]

vaud said:

TheDeuce said:

carl_w said:

TheDeuce said:

Based on Sunday it looked as if the drone wasn't allowed over the track itself, which seems like a compromise given their use in other series. I've no idea why not, they're incredibly safe. It might be that it was under manual control which isn't as safe - but even then if the operator hits the abort button they'll move back a predetermined path back to the landing spot.

Not sure but here in the UK, Motorsport UK's drone policy prohibits overflying "the competition course (track or stage), assembly areas, spectator/public areas, paddocks and service areas"

Interesting. I'm not surprised as people will worry about what could go wrong.. but in reality they're safer than most would assume and in time I think it's inevitable they'll be allowed more freedom to operate at most venues.

Even a 1kg drone landing on a driver who is doing 200mph could have fatal or life changing outcomes. Ask Rubens B. See Tom Pryce.

There is no need for them to overfly the track, however good the safety interlocks, etc. It adds risk where for little benefit.

That could only happen if someone had failed to do their job properly. As it could if someone had failed to properly secure anything else above or alongside the track.

I'm not sure the stats even exist but I expect the fail rate of manned helicopters would exceed that of professional drones.

[Sandpit Steve]

ch37 said:

It was really strange, the more I think about. 100% the operators were under heavy restrictions on flight path, but the quality (both of the footage and the flying itself) were so shonky.

I assume top end drone operators would be falling over themselves to work with F1.

Sure if it's a trial to manage logistics, safety, data transfer and incorporating the footage into the live feed etc, but if so, just keep it to FP1 for a few races or so.

It looks like the footage from a small racing drone. These use SD analogue downlinks to reduce latency for the pilot, who is wearing goggles. That picture will then be upscaled to 1080p by the FOM team on the ground.

The larger drones normally used for professional footage simply aren’t fast enough to follow a racing car at low level - and at high level, they would be interfering with the helicopter.

Then there’s the safety issues (no overflying the track, crowds etc) which need to be worked through.

The flying wire-cams are better in almost every way.

[honda_exige]

TheDeuce said:

That could only happen if someone had failed to do their job properly. As it could if someone had failed to properly secure anything else above or alongside the track.

I'm not sure the stats even exist but I expect the fail rate of manned helicopters would exceed that of professional drones.

[FourWheelDrift]

TypeRTim said:

I thought the drone footage looked like an early 2000s webcam compared to the rest of the coverage in UHD. Found it very frustrating compared to the normal heli shots.

Maybe Haas should get Mazepin back in the car so they can send up a Bayraktar TB2 drone to follow him as they have good cameras and extras.

[Nova Gyna]

Just read that Seb Vettle was robbed early yesterday morning in Barca. Silly sod left his car window open outside the hotel and some light-fingered reprobate nicked his rucksack.

Apparently, he took off in hot pursuit on his e-scooter and tracked down his AirPods via his phone.

He's reported it to the local police, though, so I’ve absolutely no doubt he’ll never see any of his stuff again - lol

Just about puts the tin hat on a stty weekend for him.

Edited to add:
I see Deesee just pipped me to the story by a mere 22 hours on the Seb thread

Edited by Nova Gyna on Tuesday 24th May 16:49

[PhilAsia]

Hungrymc said:

TypeRTim said:

Hungrymc said:

And with the issues experienced in the PU late in the race, some would criticise him for not raising the question (with all his experience, he should be mindful of these risks). We still don’t know if continuing was a good or bad decision as we don’t know the result for the PU.

So, a reasonable question, posed in a grumpy way having had his race (and counter tyre strategy) ruined, followed by a very strong drive, but maybe at a cost to come later in the season depending on the state of the PU…. I’m not sure there is a lot more to say.

Well, as the issues were affecting both factory PUs, why wasn't George asking to retire the car?

With 20/20 hindsight you could say it was possibly a decent option, but at the time he was raising the issue - there was no way to tell any of the cooling issues would crop up.

Any time someone has an issue on lap 1, should they retire the car to save the PU now?

Sorry, I thought you were saying it was a bad suggestion / discussion, hence the extrapolating to ‘any lap 1 issue should retire’

Seems we agree it was an appropriate discussion, but raised in a grumpy way. And probably the right call / response from the team... I’m ok with that,

TypeRTim said:

Here is the point I'm making. As you accept, he made the comment in a grumpy, despondant tone. Not what I would want from a 7x WDC driving for me.

I thought your point was it shouldn’t have even been discussed from your earlier post. But if you think the tone of the radio message was particularly noteworthy, that’s your prerogative,

It could have been that Lewis was downcast because he wanted to continue but the situation first appeared to suggest retiring was the better option for the season.

Just a thought. It is all conjecture anyway...

[vaud]

TheDeuce said:

That could only happen if someone had failed to do their job properly. As it could if someone had failed to properly secure anything else above or alongside the track.

A drone failing in flight can just drop. They lack the momentum and configuration that helicopters have to use the energy for a safe landing.

They aren't needed over a race track or over spectator areas, the rules are right versus the upside of a bit of extra footage (for now).

[jm doc]

vaud said:

TheDeuce said:

That could only happen if someone had failed to do their job properly. As it could if someone had failed to properly secure anything else above or alongside the track.

A drone failing in flight can just drop. They lack the momentum and configuration that helicopters have to use the energy for a safe landing.

They aren't needed over a race track or over spectator areas, the rules are right versus the upside of a bit of extra footage (for now).

Failure of a helicopter flying over the track in the way they do is quite possible, and the potential consequences for the crowd, never mind the drivers could be catastrophic

[g4ry13]

jm doc said:

vaud said:

TheDeuce said:

That could only happen if someone had failed to do their job properly. As it could if someone had failed to properly secure anything else above or alongside the track.

A drone failing in flight can just drop. They lack the momentum and configuration that helicopters have to use the energy for a safe landing.

They aren't needed over a race track or over spectator areas, the rules are right versus the upside of a bit of extra footage (for now).

Failure of a helicopter flying over the track in the way they do is quite possible, and the potential consequences for the crowd, never mind the drivers could be catastrophic

I'm surprised it's never happened before.

It's also not very green considering the sport is trying to be a bit more environmentally friendly.

[Jasandjules]

g4ry13 said:

It's also not very green considering the sport is trying to look a bit more environmentally friendly.

FTFY

[HustleRussell]

Verstappen vs. Russell was a strong case for getting rid of DRS. Overtaking shouldn't be easy at the circuit de Catalunya, and I was really enjoying watching Verstappen try to develop an opportunity to pass. If Perez hadn't been a friendly it would've quickly become a three-way brawl with positions changing.

Pretty much time to rip off the sticking plaster in my opinion. If the sport can find a way to increase braking distances a little, all the better.

I actually think that the current formula could produce entertaining exchanges with the energy deployment tools the drivers have.

[London424]

HustleRussell said:

Verstappen vs. Russell was a strong case for getting rid of DRS. Overtaking shouldn't be easy at the circuit de Catalunya, and I was really enjoying watching Verstappen try to develop an opportunity to pass. If Perez hadn't been a friendly it would've quickly become a three-way brawl with positions changing.

Pretty much time to rip off the sticking plaster in my opinion. If the sport can find a way to increase braking distances a little, all the better.

I actually think that the current formula could produce entertaining exchanges with the energy deployment tools the drivers have.

If there wasn’t DRS we’d barely have seen an overtake this season!

[HustleRussell]

I'm cool with fewer overtakes. Miami featured the second highest number of overtakes until Barcelona and nobody was raving about that race- it was pretty boring despite the fact.

[CoolHands]

HustleRussell said:

I actually think that the current formula could produce entertaining exchanges with the energy deployment tools the drivers have.

I’ve no doubt they will eventually introduce stupid st like formula e fanboost