366 replies to this topic

[7MGTEsup]

Good question. No reason at all other than the weird belief that sandtraps are somehow dangerous. There have been no serious incidents at the Parabollica for years so yeah lets totally change the run off... Utter cretins with nothing better to do basically. 

 

I thought it was to make it safer for bikers as tumbling through a gravel trap leads to broken bones......

[ExFlagMan]

In the case of Canada the grass has 12 months to recover.  Most permanent circuits run race meetings and/or track days nearly every weekend so unless they have come up with ultra quick growing grass that can go from seed sowing to fully formed roots systems (which grass run-off areas rely on to hold the underlying supporting material together) overnight, that idea does not really work for many of the classic F1 circuits. 

 

If they did manage to develop a suitable fast growing grass strain, I guess a beneficial side effect might be that the grass would grow so quick it might repair itself between each car going off, though I am not sure Safety Car interventions every few laps for marshals to mow the run-off areas so that spectators could see the track would go down too well.  

Edited by ExFlagMan, 12 September 2019 - 15:30.

[uzsjgb]

I thought it was to make it safer for bikers as tumbling through a gravel trap leads to broken bones......

 

No, asphalt is for cars, gravel is for motorcycles.

 

For example, Spa wants to host a motorcycle race, which means they have to comply with the FIM safety regulations, which means gravel traps will need to added to Eau Rouge and Raidillon. Gravel traps, which were removed almost 20 years ago to make these corners safer for cars. You see the dilemma circuits are in. The best solution for safety would be to have circuits exclusively for cars and others for motorcycles. Because that seldom happens due to monetary reasons you have to compromise on safety.

[AnttiK]

Grass + Montreal reminds me of Pedro Diniz kindly spreading grass around the whole circuit in 1998.   
https://www.youtube....V6vdqQ&t=38m35s

[Muppetmad]

https://www.autospor...-monza-f3-crash

 

I find it frustrating how the FIA responds in a kneejerk manner to incidents involving elements which should be left entirely alone, but refuses to respond to an unsafety feature (because that's what sausages kerbs are at heart) which has caused several entirely foreseeable accidents in recent years. The FIA really does employ the most preposterous logic.

[Whatisvalis]

There's no place for high curbs that can launch cars - the FIA need to get a grip. It was sheer luck the driver or a marshal didn't sustain serious injury.

[AustinF1]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet. A step forward, but I'd still rather see gravel ... or even just a grass strip between the track and a paved runoff.

 

Monza's Parabolica "a prime area" for timing loop - Masi https://www.motorspo...a-masi/4539913/

Edited by AustinF1, 12 September 2019 - 17:05.

[cpbell]

 

Autosport‏Verified account @autosport 4m4 minutes ago

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After his enormous airborne FIA Formula 3 crash at Monza, Alex Peroni has been released from hospital and doesn't require surgery, but will miss the finale of the championship in Sochi

https://t.co/i7h8c4Vpda

 

Wonderful news!

[ceesvdelst]

I think there is also a case to be made for teams asking for compensation from tracks or the FIA for kerbs doing huge damage to cars that are so badly positioned.

 

I know the guy should not be out there, but it does there i sometimes a disconnect between the drivers and the way some things are done, which is such a shame. Especially when such damage can occur, and potentially worse. I have not been horrified by a crash for a while, but that one made me wince. 

[BRG]

I think there is also a case to be made for teams asking for compensation from tracks or the FIA for kerbs doing huge damage to cars that are so badly positioned.

 

I know the guy should not be out there, but it does there i sometimes a disconnect between the drivers and the way some things are done, which is such a shame. Especially when such damage can occur, and potentially worse. I have not been horrified by a crash for a while, but that one made me wince. 

Unless you are also proposing that teams can sue Monaco, Sochi, Baku or Singapore when their clumsy drivers cream it into the wall, then I say your idea is a non-starter.

 

Anyone who damages his car on a kerb has precisely ONE person to blame - himself.  The teams should dock the drivers' wages to pay for the damage.  Of course, certain drivers might have to declare bankruptcy, but...

[SenorSjon]

There's no place for high curbs that can launch cars - the FIA need to get a grip. It was sheer luck the driver or a marshal didn't sustain serious injury.

 

Oddly enough, they mandate 2m wide, flat kerbs to prevent exactly this from happening, yet on the outside we see some hazard traps. You can only wonder how much faster the Lesmo's will be taken when the gravel right next to the track should be removed. There is no penalty for not trying. Yet, that will spell disaster because corner speeds will rise and accidents will happen.

 

Unless you are also proposing that teams can sue Monaco, Sochi, Baku or Singapore when their clumsy drivers cream it into the wall, then I say your idea is a non-starter.

 

Anyone who damages his car on a kerb has precisely ONE person to blame - himself.  The teams should dock the drivers' wages to pay for the damage.  Of course, certain drivers might have to declare bankruptcy, but...

 

Williams did get compensated for stray drain cover.

[Kalmake]

Oddly enough, they mandate 2m wide, flat kerbs to prevent exactly this from happening, yet on the outside we see some hazard traps. You can only wonder how much faster the Lesmo's will be taken when the gravel right next to the track should be removed. There is no penalty for not trying. Yet, that will spell disaster because corner speeds will rise and accidents will happen.

Any source for this?

[SenorSjon]

Any source for this?

 

Almost any of the current permanent race tracks? Kerbs are soo wide these days, you can fit a car on it. Their original function was to protect the roadside, not widen the track (>> more speed >> faster in corners >> bigger accidents).

Edited by SenorSjon, 16 September 2019 - 09:14.

[Kalmake]

Almost any of the current permanent race tracks? Kerbs are soo wide these days, you can fit a car on it. Their original function was to protect the roadside, not widen the track (>> more speed >> faster in corners >> bigger accidents).

That only means FIA approved the kerbs, not that it mandated them.

[balmybaldwin]

Oddly enough, they mandate 2m wide, flat kerbs to prevent exactly this from happening, yet on the outside we see some hazard traps. You can only wonder how much faster the Lesmo's will be taken when the gravel right next to the track should be removed. There is no penalty for not trying. Yet, that will spell disaster because corner speeds will rise and accidents will happen.

 

 

Williams did get compensated for stray drain cover.

 

 

Yes but that was ON the track and haas had every reason to expect it to be welded/bolted down adequately

[absinthedude]

The drain cover was not intended to be stray.....it was inadequately welded down/shut. The sausage kerb at Monza was installed as prescribed. 

[SophieB]

 

Autosport‏Verified account @autosport 4m4 minutes ago

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After his enormous airborne FIA Formula 3 crash at Monza, Alex Peroni has been released from hospital and doesn't require surgery, but will miss the finale of the championship in Sochi

https://t.co/i7h8c4Vpda

 

 

Autosport‏Verified account @autosport 24m24 minutes ago

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#F3 driver Alex Peroni will miss the Macau GP and faces an extended three-month spell on the sidelines after his airborne Monza crash

https://t.co/cM6VPI0cuy