There is the purity that is the open cockpit, the driver a bit in the elements for everyone to see... That said, even Senna might still be with us had he been inside a properly designed closed cockpit. Many things to consider....a closed cockpit comes with it's own set of problems. Is it the answer? Not sure.
The cars are incredibly safe as they are. This has led to drivers taking stupid chances & moves that in the past would never have been made. The consequences are no longer as grave & what we see are some stupid moves by some of the drivers. Driver safety is a good goal. I'd hate for them to turn GP cars into closed sports cars.
Might as well have the driver's stand in the pits with remote controls. That thing is way out in left field for sure. :crazy:
Thinking more along the lines of incorporating something similar to this in the overall existing F1 designs, instead of a complete wheel reinvention.... Still not sold on it, just posted this for discussion.
The Red Bull Vettel car from GT5 is certainly out there. At least in the game and certainly for me it was on the bleeding edge of undriveable. My reflexes were simply not enough to keep up with it.
Open Wheel and open cockpits or it'll no longer be F1 to me! The progression of safety and design is understandable and welcomed but take away what's held true since day one and it'll kill the history and romance of the sport. My opinion of course.
If you take all the danger out of racing we might as well be playing a video game....but I am for ways to make the drivers safer .... Surely it can be done and keep F1, F1. Better helmets that work with more structure around the drivers head possibly?
If you're willing to try and sell my formidable skills to one of the teams, I'd much appreciate it. But my gut feeling says a 5'11" 190 lbs 47 year old is NOT what any of them are looking for.
It looks to me like one rail each side, probably with a cross bar, is all that is needed. Getting out quickly from an inverted car becomes a problem, but then it probably is already. Watch the drivers twitching their shoulders around the side neck-brace crash padding (without detaching it) when they get first place on the grid - those were thought to be a restriction on getting out when first introduced. Old farts (of all ages) decry each safety improvement as it comes along but do you think drivers should still be racing in leather flying helmets, with cockpits open to the waist at the side and a steering column aimed at their chest like a spear? It's a video game already, so why expect someone to risk their life to win it?
Lotus F1 has confirmed that reserve driver Jerome D'Ambrosio will replace the suspended Romain Grosjean at Monza this weekend. Grosjean was suspended for his actions in Sunday's race in Belgium.
McLaren Tooned Ep. 4. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2BvzosZ8Sc]McLaren Tooned Episode 4 | Beyond The Limit - YouTube[/ame]
May be an F1 career ender too...which is sad because Grosjean has talent but with Kimi as a team mate he has been trying too hard to shine... He had a fast car, let the race come to him and it very easily could have been him instead of Kimi on the podium, instead...well....here he is ..not.:screwy:
Since it's Tuesday, can we talk about the race now? If you haven'e seen the race, don't watch the following clip. For those that did watch, what the heck happened here? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOuT9ZTPUAM]Michael Schumacher vs Sebastian Vettel [Spa] - YouTube[/ame]