21 replies to this topic

[BackOnTop]

Formula 1 teams warned over the use of physios
http://www.autosport...t.php/id/106011

Formula 1 teams have been told to be careful about using driver physios for any car duties, including holding out the pit boards, in case it risks a breach of staff number limits. Coming into force from the start of this season, F1 teams are restricted to a total of 60 operational staff at each event.



So basically, physios cannot do that anymore. Teams need to delegate PitBoards to one of the operational staff. How was it making any difference to the FIA or teams regarding who held these boards up. In practicality, physios have no work to do while their driver is on track... so he might make himself useful by holding the boards. Also, driver-physio relationship makes it easier for him to only show what he thinks will be important to his driver, as over the years they understand how to operate the numbers.

[Sin]

.... you mean no more of this?



does that mean we see less of this hottie now ? *sadface*

[krapmeister]

Doesn't this make it less efficient for the teams if someone like the physio - who as said probably isn't doing anything during the race anyway - isn't helping the team by doing something like this? It's not like it is costing the team any more to have them hang out the driver boards surely?

[Bloggsworth]

Can they mix the smoothies?

[wrighty]

I'd suggest it's because there's a maximum number of team members operating in the pit during races, for both a safety and an operational cover point-of-view.....now as you say the physio has nothing to do during the race, but that's not exactly a licence to draft him into another role, but just in case teams start thinking that they need three or four or five or more people doing 'second' jobs during a race this would stop them from drafting in a load of 'physios' that ends up giving the team a numerical advantage.....

[Sin]

maybe they can offer massages to loyal fans instead I would surely take one

Edited by Sin, 14 March 2013 - 12:40.

[Tony Mandara]

"But some of them operated a pit board, or fitted tyre blankets. Those sorts of things."

It's not just about pit boards, people.

[IPBushy]

If this is supposed to be a money-saving option, then there are many employers out there who will tell you it's cheaper to employ one person to do two jobs than it is to employ two people to do the same two jobs - so it can't be that!!

[Prost1997T]

F1 has become heavily restricted compared to ~20 years ago, and this statement is much in the same vein as other rule changes lately.

[eronrules]

there was some sort of problem related to physios not getting passes and drivers refusing to talk to media, i think FIA is brooding over that still want to clamp down further problems.

[RichardF1fan]

I misread the thread as 'Formula 1 teams warned over the use of physics!'
which seemed much odder.

Sounds fair to either have them in the 60 allocation and holding the pit board or not in the 60 and just holding drinks bottles. Seems fair to me - If you have a tight budget then you probably won't be using all 60 so there's no harm in including them and giving him another job. If you have a huge budget then feel free to spend the money on a guy who looks after the driver but doesn't contribute to the race team.

[Mila]

Does this mean that, when it comes to pit boards, the medium is no longer the message?

[Bloggsworth]

Does this mean that, when it comes to pit boards, the medium is no longer the message?

I saw that coming...

[alfa1]

So the teams were planning on using 60 mechanics, plus one physio (holding pitboard) for a total of 61 staff.

Now, they will instead have to use 60 mechanics (one of which holds board), plus one physio, for a total of 61 staff.

But as the news article says, if they inlcude the physio into the 'car' duties then it will indeed save money because
then they'd have 59 mechanics, plus one physio (holding pitboard) for a total of 60 staff.

So no, it wont cost them any extra money (as some have suggested).

[Don_Humpador]

Does this mean that, when it comes to pit boards, the medium is no longer the message?

I saw that coming...

Bravo.

[Atreiu]

How ****ing lame has cost cutting become...

[Fastcake]

Seems sensible enough, you're either a mechanic or you're a physio.

Anyway when did the car staff limit go up from 45? It doesn't sound like much of a limit, I'm not even sure HRT had that many staff in total...

[olliek88]

How ****ing lame has cost cutting become...

Its not directly targeting physios, teams aren't allowed anymore than 60 personnel (who are involved in the actually track operation) at a race now, there was some debate over whether or not physios are classed as team members but since they fill numerous roles Charlie has decided they should be counted as a team member, which is fair enough and makes sense, it just means teams will have to either lose a member of the track personnel or take the physios off of the pit wall etc and replace them with an existing member of the team.

[SCUDmissile]

btw, what happened to those rules the FIA wanted to ban tyre blankets? are they still coming in?

[ray b]

so what do 60 people at he track do ?
job descriptions please

rob walker ran a team with his wife [timer] two wrenches and a driver

[charly0418]

btw, what happened to those rules the FIA wanted to ban tyre blankets? are they still coming in?

I agree, I freaking hate the blankets. We as fans should be able to see with which tyre are the teams going to start from the moment the cars step in the track.

[JeanClaude]

I agree, I freaking hate the blankets. We as fans should be able to see with which tyre are the teams going to start from the moment the cars step in the track.

You do realize that the top 10 cars usually start on the tyre they've set their fastest Q3 time with and that live timing now provides information on which tyre is fitted?
Also a good rule of thumb is when it rains hard the full wets come out and with a mere drizzle or wettish track you can expect intermediates.

Hope to have enhanced your viewing pleasures for the 2013 season

JC