A Formula 1 car is deemed to be in parc fermé from Q1 until the start of the race. From that moment only minor checks and changes to the setup of the front wing may carried out. Any other change to the car is not permitted. In case of a change to the weather conditions teams are allowed to alter the air ducts around the brakes and radiators (article 34.1 of the 2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations).
As drivers are not permitted to change anything really to their car, they can be forced to qualify or race with a setup that doesn't fit the weather conditions.
Heavy rain is predicted during Saturday's qualifying while it may be dry during most of Sunday's race. If a driver thinks he should have a proper dry-weather setup on Sunday he's enforced to qualifying with that very same setup as well. This may cause a very dangerous situation as wet weather requires a much higher ride hight to drive safely.
The first time Formula 1 faced this situation was during the 2004 Belgium Grand Prix. Drivers and race engineers criticised the post-qualifying parc fermé on this safety aspect. But still the FIA haven't changed this rule.
What are you thoughts on this?
Full Version: Post-qualifying parc fermé and safety
It's exactly the situation the FIA want as it means there is a chance of the field being mixed up.
How about getting rid of the parc fermé rule and let teams do what they want to the cars before the race.
Low fuel Q3 would be much better as we would know who was the fastest with out having to think about who has what fuel load.
Problem solved!!!
Low fuel Q3 would be much better as we would know who was the fastest with out having to think about who has what fuel load.
Problem solved!!!
My thoughts.
First. If the weather prediction says wet qualifying and a mostly dry or dry race a dry setup will lose you less time in the end. Especially at a track like Monza where overtaking is easy if you have the right set up compared to someone that hasn't.
About the Parc Fermé rule. My opinion has always been that qualifying and race should be two separated issues. Meaning that you can have a qualifying setup suited for the conditions on saturday and a race setup suited for the conditions the following day. You should be allowed to change the setup from wet to dry or vice versa. I don't believe in bringing back qualifying engines. Meaning the two-race engine rule would first be applied on sunday. But drivers should be allowed to change their setup as soon as the track is officially wet or dry depending on what the weather was on saturday.
First. If the weather prediction says wet qualifying and a mostly dry or dry race a dry setup will lose you less time in the end. Especially at a track like Monza where overtaking is easy if you have the right set up compared to someone that hasn't.
About the Parc Fermé rule. My opinion has always been that qualifying and race should be two separated issues. Meaning that you can have a qualifying setup suited for the conditions on saturday and a race setup suited for the conditions the following day. You should be allowed to change the setup from wet to dry or vice versa. I don't believe in bringing back qualifying engines. Meaning the two-race engine rule would first be applied on sunday. But drivers should be allowed to change their setup as soon as the track is officially wet or dry depending on what the weather was on saturday.
Can someone remind me why they have invented the parc fermé rule ?
Originally posted by shonguiz
Can someone remind me why they have invented the parc fermé rule ?
Can someone remind me why they have invented the parc fermé rule ?
Off the top of m'head to prevent them sneakily topping up the tanks after qualifying.
I dont consider it so huge problem, at first stop they can do a whole lot of wing changes to the car.
Even playing with the height of the car ?
chances are the race will also be affected by rain,with (at the moment) seemingly very little chance of any dry F1 running for the next 2 days
the wet and intermediate tyres aprently have a larger diamiter to raise the cars up abit btw 
parc ferme also means theres no/hardly any special qualy parts, thus reducing cost
im notsure how much rearwing can be changed in the pitstop..
they can change stuff if they start from the pitlane cant they?
parc ferme also means theres no/hardly any special qualy parts, thus reducing cost
im notsure how much rearwing can be changed in the pitstop..
they can change stuff if they start from the pitlane cant they?
im notsure how much rearwing can be changed in the pitstop..
If they cant adjust it by simply *clicks*, they can change to whole thing.
Because of kerb riding in Monza, height is by default higher than normal.
Real problem will be high speed and zero visibility, there will be many rear crashes.
Originally posted by jokuvaan
I dont consider it so huge problem, at first stop they can do a whole lot of wing changes to the car.
I dont consider it so huge problem, at first stop they can do a whole lot of wing changes to the car.
A whole lot? They can change the front wing setting, I don't see that as a whole lot.
Originally posted by jokuvaan
I dont consider it so huge problem, at first stop they can do a whole lot of wing changes to the car.
I dont consider it so huge problem, at first stop they can do a whole lot of wing changes to the car.
Not the rear wing and other things as others have pointed. At least not quick enough.
The thing I'm uneasy with is that it puts more emphasis on qualy, and getting it right on saturday...
apart from establishing the grid positions, I don't like stuff that affects what you do on race day..
apart from establishing the grid positions, I don't like stuff that affects what you do on race day..
Originally posted by Kemmel
How about getting rid of the parc fermé rule and let teams do what they want to the cars before the race.
Low fuel Q3 would be much better as we would know who was the fastest with out having to think about who has what fuel load.
Problem solved!!!
How about getting rid of the parc fermé rule and let teams do what they want to the cars before the race.
Low fuel Q3 would be much better as we would know who was the fastest with out having to think about who has what fuel load.
Problem solved!!!
Yes, exactly. The current rules are extremely silly and serve no legitimate purpose. They are certainly to the advantage of the better funded teams who can test more and have better test rigs and modeling software/computers.
Originally posted by bobqzzi
Yes, exactly. The current rules are extremely silly and serve no legitimate purpose. They are certainly to the advantage of the better funded teams who can test more and have better test rigs and modeling software/computers.
Yes, exactly. The current rules are extremely silly and serve no legitimate purpose. They are certainly to the advantage of the better funded teams who can test more and have better test rigs and modeling software/computers.
That will be exactly the same no matter what the rules are.
Originally posted by Kemmel
How about getting rid of the parc fermé rule and let teams do what they want to the cars before the race.
Low fuel Q3 would be much better as we would know who was the fastest with out having to think about who has what fuel load.
Problem solved!!!
How about getting rid of the parc fermé rule and let teams do what they want to the cars before the race.
Low fuel Q3 would be much better as we would know who was the fastest with out having to think about who has what fuel load.
Problem solved!!!
Ahhh...
You mean like it used to be....Before Max And Bernie wanted to SPICE UP THE SHOW!!!
Originally posted by Ivan
Ahhh...
You mean like it used to be....Before Max And Bernie wanted to SPICE UP THE SHOW!!!
Ahhh...
You mean like it used to be....Before Max And Bernie wanted to SPICE UP THE SHOW!!!
Yep, too much spice to my taste. A whole generation grew up with distorted idea about sport and racing.
Ivan
be cool if they changed the current regs abit
out in q3, can make any changes u want
out in q2, some changes possible
q1 locked in, very limited changes
would closeup the field abit, and give the back of the grid a quick practise session too
out in q3, can make any changes u want
out in q2, some changes possible
q1 locked in, very limited changes
would closeup the field abit, and give the back of the grid a quick practise session too
Originally posted by pingu666
be cool if they changed the current regs abit
out in q3, can make any changes u want
out in q2, some changes possible
q1 locked in, very limited changes
would closeup the field abit, and give the back of the grid a quick practise session too
be cool if they changed the current regs abit
out in q3, can make any changes u want
out in q2, some changes possible
q1 locked in, very limited changes
would closeup the field abit, and give the back of the grid a quick practise session too
So the slowest guys can't change their settings but the fastest can optimise their cars, how exactly does that help to close up the field.?
They should definitely allow a wider range of changes in the interest of safety. I can't see how ride height and front and rear wing angle shouldn't be allowed to change. If it's tricky to change ride height maybe a change of rules will bring some interesting engineering solutions?
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