With China this weekend, here's a spectacular flashback. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qt9H8vFThY"]F1 Crash Sebastian Buemi China 2010 - YouTube[/ame] [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwoCLiyzdgU"]Formula One Sebastien Buemi Crash China 2010 - YouTube[/ame]
Someone please explain the wisdom in having a rule that would punish a team, Hamilton five grid places for changing a damaged transmission from the last race?
Wisdom? :lol: "Wisdom" is a significant stretch but it all goes back to the plan to reduce costs by forcing the teams to make drive train components more durable. Remember when a new engine might make it to the end of a single race...maybe? Ah, those were the good old days, eh? Hey, I didn't say it was a good plan, just remembering where the rule came from. What I can't remember is how the penalty system for this type of thing varies depending on whether it's due to a failure during a race (or maybe it's any time during a race weekend ?) versus a decision taken between races. I'm fairly sure the timing matters, though I can't remember how or why, and I imagine that's what bit Hamilton on the ass.
My understanding was if they change it before Sat qually, it's no penalty as long as they haven't gone thru their allotment for the season yet, if they have it's an automatic penalty....but I guess if they change it because it was damaged in a race that's different? Weird rule.....
"Wisdom," was sarcasm. They have given Hamilton a five place grid penalty for changing the transmission that they found damaged from the last race. Makes no sense, you can't repair your car before the next race? And please note, I am no Hamilton fan but this isn't right no matter who it is.
I'm sure Lewis didn't damage it making blinding starts in the last few races. Maybe a new transmission will help. :wink: He has really been off his game, hope he can get his mojo back before he digs a hole he can't climb out of.
The penalty is for changing it for any reason or else it, or the engine, could be "damaged" every race. As far as repairing, is there a penalty for opening up the engine, or trans, and replacing parts? Are they sealed by the FIA?
I assumed. Sorry to repeat myself but, and despite whether those rules make sense in all situations, the reason they wrote them is they figured the threat of penalties would force teams to build more reliable driveline components. Of course, that neither says those rules are fair (though they apply the same, in theory, to everyone) nor explains why you take the same penalty when the replacement is due to collision rather than actual durability of a component.....
I think Gene Haas is catching on to F1 racing. He is quoted in Motorsport.com today as referring to F1 competitors as "a bunch of whiners."
Again, I don't understand this - they're allowed 4 or 5 transmissions under the regs, why do they get penalized if they haven't gone thru that allotment yet? When CAN they change one without penalty?
Alonso was cleared to race but admits he still has "manageable" rib pain. Doesn't sound healed to me. At least one of us has dealt with broken ribs recently, does driving an F1 race with a broken rib seem like a fun day?
I'm guessing that a broken rib would be exceedingly painful being stuffed into F1 cockpit but that's what differentiates crazies from mear men.
Well, plus Vandoorne's presence as the reserve is probably slightly concerning. He did well last weekend given it was his first outing. Both Button and Alonso are expensive drivers who need to show their worth to avoid being replaced by the promising young guy. That's a strong motivator and the longer Alonso sits on the sidelines the more time Vandoorne gets to show just how good he is.
Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for six consecutive events. If a driver fails to finish a race due to reasons beyond his or his team's control, he may start the next meeting with a different gearbox without incurring a penalty.