[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by prasanna.vps

I can understand costs, but lets be clear re-fueling a racing car is NOT a safety concern IIRC, its done in most endurance races today as it was all these years. FOM is the only group that has changed it to this way.

Would be curious to understand where this concern for safety is coming from.

Biggest issue is the teams want to spend the least amount of time in the pit lane, which leads to disasters like this.



Also, the current F1 cars hold around 100 -105 kg of fuel as compared to 180 kg back in the day. So strategy wise it won't help either to start off with a lighter tank as per extra 10 kg of fuel one would loose around 0.3 sec per lap.

[PreethamB]

Originally Posted by ads11

Also right before the race weekend, right on cue Pirelli issue a tire pressure amendment. Guess who has historically struggled with tire pressures going back to their immediate post Brawn GP days? Mercedes. Getting Pirelli to allow higher pressures allowed Mercedes to mitigate somewhat the disadvantage of the lost pressure under the car from their low rake concept. I'll say this though, turns out that Otmar's car isn't entirely a Pink Mercedes anymore if it isn't as sensitive to tires as the factory cars.

Sorry, but I don't quite understand how this favours Mercedes. Pirelli prescribes the minimum tyre pressure, not the maximum. This is because the teams would generally want to run with as low a tyre pressure as they can get away with, in order to maximize the contact patch. This increases the stress on the sidewalls and the tyre carcass in general. If Mercedes wants to run with a higher tyre pressure, they can always do so, no matter what the Pirelli prescribed minimum tyre pressure is. If that's a benefit, they've always had it, not just this race.

[prasanna.vps]

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Biggest issue is the teams want to spend the least amount of time in the pit lane, which leads to disasters like this.

Actually you just proved my point that its not a safety issue but an engineering problem issue. Badly engineered hoses, fixtures and harnesses that dont do the job or a manual error caused by a lollipop man (which was the case IIRC in this instance)

Also, current cars hold 105 Kgs to ensure they can finish the race including safety cars and other provisions. Imagine what would happen if you start with on 75! As per your own calculation someone can gain 22.5 sec which is more than an interval for a pit stop in most circuits, this will favor undercuts and thus open up strategy.

I feel this will be more fun than having "mandatory" pit stops which determine your strategy at the race start itself, thereby robbing spectators of any suspense.

[shibujp]

Originally Posted by prasanna.vps

Would be curious to understand where this concern for safety is coming from.

While safety was a driver it was not a primary reason AFAIK. Sustainability and cost reduction were the major drivers. Removing the refuelling equipment and the associated safety equipment itself would save a pretty penny.

I think though, that F1 management's efforts are bearing enough fruit not to consider refuelling.

Drive on,
Shibu

[H0RSEPOWER]

Originally Posted by shibujp

Something similar was alluded to as Tsunoda was duelling with Raikkonen. The youngest on the field duelling with the oldest.

Drive on,
Shibu.

From posing next to Alonso’s F1 car as a kid, to overtake it in a race! Journey of Yuki Tsunoda is like a dream!

[Hatari]

Just what the Doctor ordered for the season opener! A battle at the top!!

An highly impressive last stint from Lewis. Showed them whose Boss! May have justified his mega salary to the Mercedes bosses in just those last 14 laps!
A few are critical of his driving while going over the white line, but a smart driver will take every advantage the rules/stewards allow him to.

Was quite sure Max would get past, wonder if the problem with the differential cost him that extra tenth. Nice outing for Perez.

Mclaren/Ferrari/Alpha Tauri have made up significant ground. A little disappointed with Alpine after a good qualifying session. Would have imagined better race pace. Alonso is a touch rusty understandably, as are Daniel/Carlos/Sebastian in their new steeds.

I feel Gasly is going to be exposed with the brilliance of the young Tsunoda. What a find!

[tazmaan]

Superb race and Redbull seems to have a faster car currently. But we all know how Mercedes progress through the season. Also for Redbull reliability needs to be sorted out since Mercedes have a good reliability record.

Lately it seems like Hamilton has upped his game. It's is getting so difficult to put him under pressure and force him to make mistakes. On the other hand Max has matured a lot, gone are the days when he would be extra adventurous/risky on the track. Looks like an exciting season ahead.

[Mr.Bentley]

How do you guys follow the Race events (Qualification, races live coverage) in India? ESPN?

If we want to follow a specific somebody racing their way, is that possible?

PS.: Netflix introduced me to "Drive to Survive" in the last November. Got hooked up to the sport since then. I've also finished the Season 3, and am already waiting for the next season!

PPS.: I play Real Racing 3 (a lot) - since more than 5 years. All those tracks in the game are scaled to the real world tracks (licensed). Watching the races in those tracks give a 'known' feeling, almost like watching a movie scene with a drive through your city roads (it may feel little exaggerated, but racing 1000s of laps in those same tracks DO give you that feeling!)

[carlosTHEjackal]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bentley

How do you guys follow the Race events (Qualification, races live coverage) in India? ESPN?

Just subscribe to Disney Hotstar VIP package. You can watch all FP, Qualifying and Live Race without advertisements.
The added advantage here is, if you miss any of the races, you can watch them later as these will be available under Sports - Formula 1 section for future viewing.

Note: A race recording will only be available till the next race commences. So you can't view older races.