10 replies to this topic

[Magoo]

Wondering what the Best and the Brightest here at the Technical Forum think about the Nico Rosberg penalty at the British Grand Prix.

 

Were Rosberg and Mercedes truly in violation of the rules limiting technical guidance delivered to the driver via radio?

 

Is the rule good? Bad? In need of tuning? Major overhaul? Eager to hear your opinions. 

 

 

http://www.autosport...io-rules-breach

[MatsNorway]

I think it is silly that they can't say whatever over the radio. In general the sport as we all agree upon has too many stupid rules.

[Bloggsworth]

Telling Rosberg what was wrong was OK, advising him how to get round it was "advice" on how to drive the car, which is a no-no. I agree that drivers should not be coached on how to go faster, but think it unreasonable for a driver to know what it takes 10 on the pit wall and a multiple back in the factory to figure out...

[MatsNorway]

Then they should just ditch Radio to the pit alltogheter. FIA radio only with warnings about stuff on track etc. ( in addition to the flags)

[Ross Stonefeld]

Yeah either ban the radios or just don't broadcast the bits where they're being 'coached' if you're worried about the drivers not looking cool enough to the public. 

 

The real dumb one was Austraia and not being able to tell one of the Force Indias about their imminent brake failures. How that doesn't put you into legal problems...

[Boro]

10 seconds vs potentially a gearbox and 5 grid spots in Hungary?  I'll take the 10s hit all day everyday.  

[gruntguru]

Whatever happened to pit boards?

[Lee Nicolle]

Pit boards are not hi tech for F1!! They need communications that cost a fortune!!

The cars are so hitech with dozens of electronic controls that the drivers need an onboard engineer!

OR make the cars simpler without all the controls. Which I do feel in part is behind these rules. And I think it a very good idea.

Banning radios and telemetry as well probably even better. Make the cars simpler and idiot proof. That NOT meaning most drivers are idiots but most cannot do 2 or more peoples work at 200mph!

Many of these drivers have been coached every inch of the way, they steer and someone else monitors the car. Ban all that and cut costs with about a dozen people less.

Onboard data logging is inevitable and helps the engineers.Meaning less blowups and failures.  But only to be downloaded after the race.

[MatsNorway]

They had onboard race engineers in the Flåklypa movie. One of the inspirations for Koenigsegg http://crossfade.io/#!/96a7dk2es7

 

Edit: found a better clip, Copy paste and it works.

Edited by MatsNorway, 12 July 2016 - 20:25.

[Canuck]

Telling Rosberg what was wrong was OK, advising him how to get round it was "advice" on how to drive the car, which is a no-no. I agree that drivers should not be coached on how to go faster, but think it unreasonable for a driver to know what it takes 10 on the pit wall and a multiple back in the factory to figure out...

This closely equates to my own position on the matter, however the whole point is that no driver, on any team, is capable of knowing what a team of analysis engineers on-the-spot are required to figure out. Its a pretty level field in that respect. If the driver makes a call that is wrong,and gets stuck in a gear or explodes the entire box or cooks an engine - that's the unknown quantity that should always remain a part of racing.

I love data collection and analysis - I'm always amazed at what you can derive from it. However being able to accurately predict everything all the time removes too much of the sport. There should be drama and agony, heroic wins and heartbreaking losses (people aside, obviously). We are slowing eroding the elements that make it engaging.

We want disparities born of intelligence and cleverness, not money (no, I have absolutely no idea how you do that), strong underdogs with a real chance once in a while, a villain and a hero, drama, danger (relative) and all the rest of the elements required to make an experience that pulls you in.

I'm not suggesting we want F1 to become WWE wrestling or afternoon soap operas, but the answer to the declining viewership is undoubtedly tied to ever more antiseptic events.

The rule needs to be stricter, not because its not fair, not because we need simpler technology, but because we need more drama.

Or not. Whatever.

[scolbourne]

A good judge of what should be allowed is whether a better driver would perform better without the communication than another driver. Safety stuff like brakes I think should overide this though.

 

In this case a perfect driver would not need the communication so the radio call should be banned.