White lines...
Discussion
Tend to agree with Martin Brundle's comments about the bounds of the circuit. So....
With the technology open to the FIA etc etc, why don't they have a device on the car that cuts power back (say to 50% max) if a car gets all 4 wheels over the defined edges of the circuit?
There seemed to be quite a few cars making plenty of use of the "run off" without penalty today. And it seems (anecdotally) to be happening increasingly (possibly due to the safety improvements in circuits).
With the technology open to the FIA etc etc, why don't they have a device on the car that cuts power back (say to 50% max) if a car gets all 4 wheels over the defined edges of the circuit?
There seemed to be quite a few cars making plenty of use of the "run off" without penalty today. And it seems (anecdotally) to be happening increasingly (possibly due to the safety improvements in circuits).
designndrive62 said:
Just a development of what they have in the white lines in tennis would be sufficient.
If i car goes all four wheels off the circuit it alerts the race officials, it can then also tally how often this is occurring with certain cars and then penalties can be applied consistantly.
They already do this in Aussie V8 supercars with certain chicanes. There are sensors in the ground that are triggered when someone cuts it and after 2 or 3 they get a warning and then the next time its a drive trough.If i car goes all four wheels off the circuit it alerts the race officials, it can then also tally how often this is occurring with certain cars and then penalties can be applied consistantly.
This has been bugging me for a while but surely the solution's much, much simpler: they're pretty diligent about putting speed bumps on the inside of a corner to dissuade cutting, so why aren't there the same on the outside (removable for MotoGP events) - or maybe make it an undulating surface so that you don't launch a car, but you can't keep your foot in. Wouldn't take many, just position them judiciously as to block the 'clean' line through. Hell, maybe a few scattered moguls might be enough - anything that ensures running off the circuit is always a disadvantage
Spa '08 was a poorly handled in lots of ways, but I thought Raikkonen gained advantage by being able to run wide, keep his foot in and not lose any lead at all. There have been other instances besides, but I can only recall Vettel this year in Oz (@ Brabham?) when he gained or maintained position. Don't recall any discussion never mind investigation of either.
Quite a few drivers had four wheels over the line on the turn Brundle was complaining about (4?) yesterday on enough occasions to warrant a warning if it were the BTCC; pretty poor state of affairs when so-called pinnacle of motorsport more lax than a junior category.
Spa '08 was a poorly handled in lots of ways, but I thought Raikkonen gained advantage by being able to run wide, keep his foot in and not lose any lead at all. There have been other instances besides, but I can only recall Vettel this year in Oz (@ Brabham?) when he gained or maintained position. Don't recall any discussion never mind investigation of either.
Quite a few drivers had four wheels over the line on the turn Brundle was complaining about (4?) yesterday on enough occasions to warrant a warning if it were the BTCC; pretty poor state of affairs when so-called pinnacle of motorsport more lax than a junior category.
Pints said:
... "why are they not being penalised?"
Indeed.Perhaps they don't want the aggro. Maybe a technical solution would take the risk of bias out - light up the warning boards 3 times and you get a drive through just like the Aussie version mentioned above. (If you're having to take avoiding action 4 times in a race, you're probably involved in the reason why!).
Or maybe the cars aren't really running wide that often...they certainly seem to be though.
zac510 said:
They've been experimenting with that high friction paint at Paul Ricard for years. Still haven't seen it at any F1 tracks. I understand it chews up tyres if you slide on it. Perhaps that's some punishment.
^ this - penalty for running wide - slows the car and prevents an immediate advantage for going off circuit also reduces speed of the car if actually on the way to the scene of an accident, so a safety feature too! 
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