Pace car - why always Mercedes ?
Discussion
I don't think they're provided for free. It's a promotional thing that also serves a purpose.
It used to be that the host promoter / motor club provided support vehicles but there were increasing numbers of occasions when the course Opel Cavalier or whatever would get close to being lapped. I think it did once.
Who remembers the old Jag 'fire' car at the British GP. That's still knocking about somewhere.
It used to be that the host promoter / motor club provided support vehicles but there were increasing numbers of occasions when the course Opel Cavalier or whatever would get close to being lapped. I think it did once.
Who remembers the old Jag 'fire' car at the British GP. That's still knocking about somewhere.
Bo_apex said:
surely it must be about money and having extra subtle influence over the entire show?
Thoughts....
Be interesting to hear your thinking/ reasoning over this bitThoughts....
Mercedes do a good range of cars which are suited to the FIAs needs ie sportscar, estate and SUV which suit the pace car, doctors car and medical 4x4. Not very other premium brand has this that are involved in F1.
Didn’t Honda used to have a monopoly for a while?
Audi does the same for WEC/ Le Mans
StevieBee said:
I don't think they're provided for free. It's a promotional thing that also serves a purpose.
It used to be that the host promoter / motor club provided support vehicles but there were increasing numbers of occasions when the course Opel Cavalier or whatever would get close to being lapped. I think it did once.
Who remembers the old Jag 'fire' car at the British GP. That's still knocking about somewhere.
Remember those Countaches they used in Monaco for a few years back in the 80s:It used to be that the host promoter / motor club provided support vehicles but there were increasing numbers of occasions when the course Opel Cavalier or whatever would get close to being lapped. I think it did once.
Who remembers the old Jag 'fire' car at the British GP. That's still knocking about somewhere.
37chevy said:
Didn’t Honda used to have a monopoly for a while?
Renault were the supplier before Mercedes.They used a Safrane Biturbo in 1995. The medical car carrying Sid Watkins suffered engine failure climbing the hill to Casino Square on the opening lap of the Monaco GP.
In 1996 they supplied an unmodified Laguna but the car had such poor wet weather grip that the safety car driver pulled off at the pit lane exit at Monaco rather than attempt to complete a lap. Renault then provided some tuned Meganes but according to Watkins they "supplied a lot of noise but didn't go very fast".
As a result of these disappointments, the FIA terminated Renault's contract and Mercedes began an informal supply of cars. An AMG modified Mercedes C-Class was used at the Belgian GP later that year.
A formal contract for Mercedes to supply all the safety and medical cars began in June 1997 at the French GP (much to the annoyance of Renault!) and they have supplied all of the cars since then.
There have been several different official safety car drivers since then. In the early years it was Alex Ribiero who had a slight mishap at the Monaco GP when the ABS failed at Tabac. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHX6bgyeS94
Bernd Maylander has been safety car driver since 2000.
ralphrj said:
37chevy said:
Didn’t Honda used to have a monopoly for a while?
Renault were the supplier before Mercedes.They used a Safrane Biturbo in 1995. The medical car carrying Sid Watkins suffered engine failure climbing the hill to Casino Square on the opening lap of the Monaco GP.
In 1996 they supplied an unmodified Laguna but the car had such poor wet weather grip that the safety car driver pulled off at the pit lane exit at Monaco rather than attempt to complete a lap. Renault then provided some tuned Meganes but according to Watkins they "supplied a lot of noise but didn't go very fast".
As a result of these disappointments, the FIA terminated Renault's contract and Mercedes began an informal supply of cars. An AMG modified Mercedes C-Class was used at the Belgian GP later that year.
A formal contract for Mercedes to supply all the safety and medical cars began in June 1997 at the French GP (much to the annoyance of Renault!) and they have supplied all of the cars since then.
There have been several different official safety car drivers since then. In the early years it was Alex Ribiero who had a slight mishap at the Monaco GP when the ABS failed at Tabac. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHX6bgyeS94
Bernd Maylander has been safety car driver since 2000.
That's quite a hold Mercedes have had on this marketing position.
The Lamborghini Countach is far more interesting !
Surprised Liberty don't insert the odd American muscle car for some races.
37chevy said:
Audi does the same for WEC/ Le Mans
Porsche have that gig now.https://www.lemans.org/en/news/safety-cars-leading...
thegreenhell said:
How bl**dy cool is that. How many times have we seen a driver trying to get the safety car to speed up as they can't keep their tyres warm.
The Mercedes safety car always looks very heavy, especially in corners. Surely Mercedes could provide a project one which would also get the fans excited.
If not then why not a Mercedes LeMan pace car. Perhaps it's all to do with wanting to sell their road car which will be seen by millions watching.
Saying that back at Imola 1994 they had the Vauxhall/Opal Cavalier GSI. Honestly, they had Ferrari's F355 as a marshall car sitting at the side of the track but use the Vauxhall.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 1st June 14:22
According to this Reddit page, the last non-Mercedes safety car to make an appearance during a race was a Renault Clio in 1996.
https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1wgxeh/...
I wonder who the driver is - not even wearing a helmet.
https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1wgxeh/...
I wonder who the driver is - not even wearing a helmet.
Mr_Thyroid said:
According to this Reddit page, the last non-Mercedes safety car to make an appearance during a race was a Renault Clio in 1996.
https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1wgxeh/...
I wonder who the driver is - not even wearing a helmet.
I loved my Clio Williams. Fantastic little car https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1wgxeh/...
I wonder who the driver is - not even wearing a helmet.
red_slr said:
IIRC Monza still has it in their contract to put out their own car, which is basically code for taking a brown envelope from VAG or Fiat to put one of their cars out on the formation lap.
The Italian and San Marino Grands Prix both had a Ferrari 348 (same one at both races) follow the field round for the first lap. Not sure if it's still used.ralphrj said:
Renault were the supplier before Mercedes.
They used a Safrane Biturbo in 1995. The medical car carrying Sid Watkins suffered engine failure climbing the hill to Casino Square on the opening lap of the Monaco GP.
In 1996 they supplied an unmodified Laguna but the car had such poor wet weather grip that the safety car driver pulled off at the pit lane exit at Monaco rather than attempt to complete a lap. Renault then provided some tuned Meganes but according to Watkins they "supplied a lot of noise but didn't go very fast".
As a result of these disappointments, the FIA terminated Renault's contract and Mercedes began an informal supply of cars. An AMG modified Mercedes C-Class was used at the Belgian GP later that year.
A formal contract for Mercedes to supply all the safety and medical cars began in June 1997 at the French GP (much to the annoyance of Renault!) and they have supplied all of the cars since then.
There have been several different official safety car drivers since then. In the early years it was Alex Ribiero who had a slight mishap at the Monaco GP when the ABS failed at Tabac. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHX6bgyeS94
Bernd Maylander has been safety car driver since 2000.
fascinating, I've been watching since the early 90s and don't remember renaults, merc safety/med cars have become quite an iconic part of the sport.They used a Safrane Biturbo in 1995. The medical car carrying Sid Watkins suffered engine failure climbing the hill to Casino Square on the opening lap of the Monaco GP.
In 1996 they supplied an unmodified Laguna but the car had such poor wet weather grip that the safety car driver pulled off at the pit lane exit at Monaco rather than attempt to complete a lap. Renault then provided some tuned Meganes but according to Watkins they "supplied a lot of noise but didn't go very fast".
As a result of these disappointments, the FIA terminated Renault's contract and Mercedes began an informal supply of cars. An AMG modified Mercedes C-Class was used at the Belgian GP later that year.
A formal contract for Mercedes to supply all the safety and medical cars began in June 1997 at the French GP (much to the annoyance of Renault!) and they have supplied all of the cars since then.
There have been several different official safety car drivers since then. In the early years it was Alex Ribiero who had a slight mishap at the Monaco GP when the ABS failed at Tabac. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHX6bgyeS94
Bernd Maylander has been safety car driver since 2000.
All those tipping various super/hyper car suggestions, you wouldn't want something too "skittish on the limit" when you'll face scenarios like heavy rain, street circuits. Well they wouldn't, we'd have a ball. It should probably be Mitsubishi providing cars.
rdjohn said:
37chevy said:
Audi does the same for WEC/ Le Mans
Porsche have that gig now.https://www.lemans.org/en/news/safety-cars-leading...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&...
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