13 replies to this topic

[Skinnyguy]

I´ve been thinking about something. In some circuits we have different pitlane limiters, usually 60km/h instead of 100km/h. How is this decided, and in which circuits is it the reduced speed used? You´d think that Australia pitlane is safe enough for 100km/h, but cars looked particulary slow while pitting.

Yes, it might look an irrelevant topic, but actually tyre management and less stops are boosted by a slow pit limiter. Yes, I´m not delusional, it´s true. Example: After the third stop from Alonso, he emerged barely 5 seconds behind Räikkönen. Surely you lose more than that doing that extra drive through the pitlane at 60 km/h instead of the usual 100 km/h. So, the decission about the speed limit could be decissive and actually favour one team over another

[indian]

Example: After the third stop from Alonso, he emerged barely 5 seconds behind Räikkönen. Surely you lose more than that doing that extra drive through the pitlane at 60 km/h instead of the usual 100 km/h. So, the decission about the speed limit could be decissive and actually favour one team over another

The 100km/h limit would apply to Raikkonen also. He would've travelled faster during his own pit-stops.

[Diderlo]

The 100km/h limit would apply to Raikkonen also. He would've travelled faster during his own pit-stops.

Yes, but the point was that Alonso did 1 more stop. It wouldn't have decided anything in this case, but the point is valid. It indeed promotes lesser amount of pit stops by making pit stops take more time. But like Räikkönen himself would tell us.. It's the same for everyone

[Brother Fox]

I thought it was dependant on the circuit, so street circuits typically have tighter pits hence the lower speed.

I dont think it really matters though as everyone has the same conditions to drive in, if you decide to 3 stop versus 2 stop., The boffins in the backroom have taken that into consideration with their modelling.

[pingu666]

its slower in practice and maybe qualy at all tracks

[Skinnyguy]

its slower in practice and maybe qualy at all tracks

Thaks for the answers everyone. It´s always reduced speed (60) in practice and quali, I think. I´m interested in to know in which circuits it´s 60 also on race day. I take Valencia, Monaco and Singapore for granted (I have pictures in my mind of cars going really slow there), do I miss any?

And if you think about it, not only speed but obviously pitlane lenght (actually difference bewteen how much longer it takes to cross the pitlane than the circuit) do make a difference when teams decide their strategy. No coincidence the only 4 stop win on a dry race took place in a circuit with very short pitlane, so much that a DT penalty can cost you only 4/5 places with a handful of laps of fieldspread, similar to Canada. But as someone said, it´s fair as long as it´s same for everyone I´m sure teams already bare in mind all this data before deciding the race strategy. I was just genuinely curious as cars looked painfully slow in Oz race despite quite good pitlane.

[Kingshark]

To equal out the punishment of a normal pit stop, drive through penalty, or 10 second penalty? I'm guessing.

A drive through in Montreal is certainly not the same as a drive through in Interlagos.

[Skinnyguy]

I don´t know about the past, but now there´s certainly no "manipulation" of speed limits to create similar differences between track and pitlane in different circuits. After all Canada is limited to 100 instead of 60, same as Magny Cours not that long ago.

Anyway I got my answer doing some reading:

The 60km/h limit is already used at four races - Australia, Monaco, Singapore and Valencia - because the pit lanes there are either smaller or shorter than at other races

http://www.bbc.co.uk...rmula1/17209342

Looking at track selection, I don´t think length and time difference with a normal lap has anything to do with it. Australia is certainly not shorter than other 100 km/h pitlanes I can think of. Probably they just label them as "urban circuits" and that´s it.

[Currahee]

I seem to recall a DTM race a few years ago where Hakkinen and di Resta benefited from pitting when the safety car came out and beat the safety car to basically lap everyone.

Can't remember where though.

[Skinnyguy]

I seem to recall a DTM race a few years ago where Hakkinen and di Resta benefited from pitting when the safety car came out and beat the safety car to basically lap everyone.

Can't remember where though.

Now that´s a slow Safety Car

[Currahee]

Now that´s a slow Safety Car

More to do with a short pitlane compared to the track.

I think there was a protest and both Hakkinen and di Resta got half points.

[PayasYouRace]

Not Monaco. The entrance to the pits is far tighter than the final turn since they swapped the pit garages round, and there's basically a chicane at the exit.

But Silverstone would be a great example, where the pitlane skips out the entire Vale-Club section. Montreal too, especially the way it straightlines T1 at the exit. Spa's old pit entry that cut straight across the Bus Stop would be another.

[Bleu]

I seem to recall a DTM race a few years ago where Hakkinen and di Resta benefited from pitting when the safety car came out and beat the safety car to basically lap everyone.

Can't remember where though.

Lausitzring 2007 IIRC. The safety car picked up wrong driver as a leader (maybe it was driver who was 3rd), then everyone queued behind, pitted and continued.

[Skinnyguy]

If there was no pitspeed limit, I'm sure almost anybody would use the piltlane in Monaco, seeing that the last corner has a apex speed of ~75 km/h
with a 100km/h pitspeed, it would be a close call, let alone a safety car.

Yeah, yeah, I got that, pit speed limits originally emerged to stop that chance. And I didn´t know it, I thought it was all down to stop lunacy close to mechanics I don´t agree Monaco would be faster, but if you think about Montreal, it makes a lot of sense. Just imagine cars skipping the final chicane and turn 1 and getting a better line into turn 2 as an extra.

What I said is that the current difference between the 100 km/h and the 60 km/h pitlanes has anything to do with equalizing the time loss of pitstops/penalties across circuits, given the current selection of circuits with slowed pit speed limits.