It occurs to me there might be a kinda slippery reason for that.

If STR stay in FOTA it means that RBR still have a voice in FOTA even though they're free to ignore the RRA if they want.

Still seems rather short-sighted to me though.

Just occured to me, as well...

STR use Ferrari engines.

Given their RBR heritage and their use of Ferrari engines, that kinda suggests that STR might be used as a mouthpiece for Ferrari AND RBR within FOTA.

That seems downright underhanded to me.

That makes sense.

I see all 20 races have been confirmed for next season. A lot of talk that Bahrain is most likely to be cancelled but Turkey might take it's place. Austin race is looking more likely again. Apparently the S. Korean race was in trouble as the organisers weren't making any money but Bernie has been happy to re-negotiate. Amazing how he'll play hard-ball with Austin but bend over backwards to keep an Asian race.

Its all about the money.

He can afford to play hard ball with Austin, as he now has the New York race. I dont think having 2 races in the states is a good idea. Hence why Bernie wouldnt mind losing Austin.

Expected.


Expected.


Would this have deprived us of Canada? Is it because of Abu Dhabi being dusk?


A sensible proposal. Gets rid of back markers from the 'snake', but I see this affecting pit stops under SC unfairly.


I presume for safety? Otherwise I can't see why this is an issue - unless of course it's applied to Practice just because Quali is actually Qualifying Practice. Consistency? Surely not!


I can see this one being contentious. It's a bit like the 'offside' rule. One move to defend and then the racing line is the racing line as far as I can see. Drivers won't defend if this is the case. If you move offline, you MUST at some point retake the line. You could argue for 'up to the apex of the corner that the defensive move is taken for' but some corners are continual, don't have clear or defined apexes, etc. It needs to be a clear rule. A double move is easier to spot as you leave the racing line twice, but what about corners where there is space for two lines - i.e. wide entry corners where drivers go for the switchback?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxg39qPaA8

One thing is clear - we all want to see racing. I worry that we'll get some kind of Scalextrix racing where cars pass freely without defending and re-pass each other. DRS tweaking will still be a work in progress during 2012, let's hope it doesn't spoil what promises to be another epic battle.

Discuss
Last edited by shhftw : 08-12-2011 at 08:55

Taken from another thread:


Not sure about Steve Rider. I was never a huge fan of his during the ITV days although it may have been as much to do with the punditry team he had with him. I do like the sound of the historic F1 documentaries he'll be doing, though.

Taken from another source:


I'm not familiar with Lazenby or the girls. Over all though it doesn't sound too bad.

Except it caused confusion, chaos and delays last time it was tried. Have they got improved dash displays to tell a driver they can unlap themselves? That way if the display fails then they stay put and tough luck. How will other drivers know if the car behind is one that is allowed to unlap themselves or is their team-mate in an identically liveried car who is trying it on?

Most of those rules were expected. Not sure its a good idea for back markers to be let passed the safety car, so they can unlap themselves. Although I doubt it makes much difference. Could be tricky going passed a car that is weaving trying to keep its tyres warm. Or going passed on a tight circuit like Monaco. There will also be a problem when the safety car lights go out, I cant see too many front runners allowing lapped cars to go passed, as it puts an obstacle between them and the car infront. They would rather they stay behind, as it puts an obstacle between them and the car behind.

The Abu Dhabi GP finishes in the dark. So I dont think it matters if they reduce the time from 8 hours to 4.

Probably what will happen with the blocking, is that cars will come out of the corner, off the racing line, then the blocking move will be to come onto the racing line.

Shame about the blown diffusers being banned. An F1 car revving at 18K rpm is loud, but compared to the noise generated by the blown diffusers its nothing. Shame that sound will disappear.

You wont get cars trying it on, as you are not allowed to overtake under safety car conditions. If they did they will be penalised.

You are allowed to pass a car which is in apparent difficulties. So if a car slows to (wrongly) allow a car to "unlap" themselves then there will be no penalty.

Regarding the rule about suspended races, I expect it's because some races over the last couple of years have come awfully close to ending in darkness after being delayed because of rain etc.

Course, if Bernie just went back to starting all the races at 2pm local time rather than buggering about in order to create prime-time viewing in key global markets this wouldn't be an issue.

As a kid, half the fun of F1 was getting up at daft-o-clock with my dad to watch the flyaways.

Regarding the thing about cutting the track, there's been a couple of natable incidents recently (I'm looking at you Seb') where cars that wouldn't have ordinarily been able to start another flying lap before time ran out in quali' have cut the track and made it across the line with seconds to spare.

Revising the "one move" rule is a bit silly.
All it's going to encourage drivers to do is to cover the inside line on approach to a corner and then move across ONTO the racing line before they brake.

Frankly, rather than making the rule more strict, they'd have been better off (IMO) getting rid of it entirely but penalising ALL clumsy overtaking manoevres as harshly as they've penalised Hamilton this season.

When you are behind a safety car, you wont need to slow down to let some unlap themselves. You are already travelling at a very slow speed (relatively), so the back marker will just speed up and get past you.

Yes I am aware that if a car is having difficulties you are allowed to pass them.

you've clearly never used Digital Scalley then... lane changing is the norm.... including taking racing lines through corners, its perfectly acceptable to change lane so that you are in front of another car both of you in the same slot.

Meant to say, I'm not keen on them changing the safety-car rules.

The current system creates a choice for teams.

Do you leave your car on track during an SC and gain track position but lose the tactical advantage of new tyres or do you bring a car in, fit new tyres, lose track position but then hope you can re-pass the other cars after the incident?

By contrast, the old system meant that any car that pitted during an SC gained a tactical advantage AND were allowed to re-take their track position.

Basically, a SC incident will "reset" the race and negate any advantage that a driver who's looked after his tyres might have achieved.

Yes, I see what you mean with the blocking. I too am disappointed about the diffusers. I love all that rasping, popping and snorting!


Werd! (Re: Bernie)

Quali is becoming a bit like 'Shooting Stars'. Same old show, everyone jostling for position on the final run - IF they can be bothered to turn in more than a sector time because they've no tyres left.

Everyone's pushed the envelope to try and get near the Red Bull in quali. The no re-mapping rule drafted mid-season - Alonso's tow, running ridiculously light on fuel and having one lap 'shit or bust', trying to get 'last on track' position as the clock expires and 'psychological' track rubbering I've found it exciting

Hamilton has had a 'mare this season. It's how he bounces back that'll give us the measure of him.

And as for penalties, they're never applied equally or consistently - maybe it's because we're not impartial with our drivers!


I never had Scalextrix either! I had a deprived childhood!


OK, I think you've all argued successfully for NOT changing the track positional rules under SC conditions. I've changed my mind

I imagine the rule will be interpeted as you have made your one permitted move when you move off the racing line - even if you have been off line for the whole distance between corners, when you then move back on line for the corner you will have made the second move. In other words, if you are not on the normal racing line you have made your one permitted defensive move.

Should be interesting to see how drivers mistakes are handled in tandem with this, i.e. if a driver outbrakes himself or has to move to avoid a spinning car in front of him and then has to resume the racing line etc.....there are all sorts of legitimate reasons for making more than one move, it will be very difficult to police I think.

Toro Rosso have named their driver line up for next season:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/form...e/16187987.stm

Riccardo was always going to happen. Red Bull just placed him at HRT so he could have a few races in F1 and Jean-Eric Vergne is highly rated by the team.

Thought Alguersuari had performed certainly in the last part of the season but Red bull really rate these two so will be interesting to see how Toro Rosso perorm next season.

The Renaulotus line-up for 2012 (Raikkonen and Grosjean) is a bit of a surprise.
Petrov probably figured that if talent wasn't enough to keep his seat then his money probably was.
Guess not.

Apparently, Eric Boullier has said that communication with Robert Kubica has "reached zero" now and his contract is up at the end of December and isn't being renewed.

Obviously, nothing is certain but if Kubica completes his recovery then Massa's seat at Ferrari might be Kubica's target for 2013.

I really hope Kubica's career doesn't just peter out. He seems like a really nice fella and he's a "proper" racer, given half a chance.

Incidentally, I read an interview where Kubica admitted that his hand was "almost severed" in his accident but the extent of the injury had been downplayed.

*EDIT*
Also, it was kinda funny to hear that Raikkonen was involved in a snowmobile crash just after signing for Renaulotus.
The Renault bosses must wonder what they have to do in order to ensure that the drivers they hire are fit to race.

Kubica has done his last F1 race. He won't be back. Leg injuries maybe but severe arm/hand no chance.

Sadly, I think you are right and he will end up doing DTM.

Like Nannini

Adrian Sutil has been replaced by Nico Hulkenberg at Force India. A shame as Sutil was a good driver. Sutils options are limited, as there arent that many seats left. Possibly Sutil to replace Barrichello at Williams?

Wouldn't be surprised if Barrichello stays at Williams. The FW33 was a dog of a car which didn't respond to any finesse or driver input. Maldonado out qualified Rubens on occasion due to the size of his balls - but fared worse in races. If the FW34 is any better than FW33 which, given the new technical team it should be....and with the Renault engine as a huge upgrade over the Cosworth as well, all the signs are pointing towards a much better car for next year. The team would want at least one safe pair of hands that can make the most of the smallest opportunity, Sutil is still to prove he has that quality whereas Rubens has definitely still got it.