[sbrscnds]

If todays race is anything to go by anything past intermediate conditions is now safety car territory.

We may as well throw out wet tyres, they aren't needed and if it is too bad we'll throw out the safety car until such time as wets are no longer needed and we go back onto intermediates.

What are your opinions on this?

[Borrinas]

Did you not see the spray?

[CGECngjA]

There was alot of water after the red flag and full wets were the right tyres, I think the drivers were being cautious and everyone was caught out at how quick the track dried. Who would have thought slicks would be in use after 55 odd laps when at lap 25, the track was a river.

[sbrscnds]

I saw the spray but by the time the safety car went in it was dry enough for intermediates, that's my point. It should have come in sooner. No point in having wet tyres if it will always be too wet to use them before it is safe to race.

I long for the days of Donnington 93, Spain 96, Spa 98, Monza 97, Estoril 85 where they were told get out there and race, and no pussy footing crap.

[Borrinas]

I bet you long for Imola 94 too

[sbrscnds]

I bet you long for Imola 94 too

That was a dry race.

There is safety but they are the best drivers in the world. They should be able to drive in wet conditions. If they can't then the level of competition in F1 is simply very poor now compared to ten years ago.

[CGECngjA]

I bet you long for Imola 94 too

While I agree about the spray, No one wants these type of days back.

Thats being a bit unreasonable.

[sbrscnds]

While I agree about the spray, No one wants these type of days back.

Thats being a bit unreasonable.

And I don't long for those dark days either, brother.

However, cars lapping to the point of intermediates is simply ridiculous.

Also, making the cars start under the safety car is ridiculous.

Other than that I thought the stewards had a fine day in the office.

[CevepBiageCefm]

I think that the reason to suspend the race had nothing to do with spray but free standing water.

On the run from turns 8 & 9 to L'Epingle (the hairpin) and back up Casino Straight, during the stoppage there were crews with shovels and ploughs scooping the water off the track.

F1 cars do not have a specified minimum ride height (though it might be implied by the skid blocks under the car), this means that they run very close to the ground indeed. If the water was sufficiently deep enough, then instead of just the wheels aquaplaning, the whole underside of the car would act as a giant aquaplaning thing with a couple of fins underneath.
That's all fine but the drivers are paid to drive cars, not ill-handling boats.

Charlie Whiting would have been talking to Bernd Maylander and the racing drivers, so this was more of a consensus thing than you probably expect.

I think that the stewards made the right call.

[GECEDEANY]

The way the FIA pussy footed around yesterday was embarassing. These are supposedly the best drivers in he world. Supposedly. I don't give a flying fu@k if they need to convert their cars to row boats to race, just race dammit and drive according to the conditions just like we all have to do when it rains.

[AntonayPina]

I bet you long for Imola 94 too

Poor taste Daniel.

Back to the point though, Whilst I agree that part of the race yesterday was needed to be halted and it was, I do think they dragged it out longer than was needed. Di Resta and Hamilton agreed the race should not have been started behind, mainly because they had the most to gain, but it once again robbed us of the squabble into turn 1. Its one of the most exciting starts on the calendar, and we missed out IMO. Nevermind, once the race had restarted after the final SC, it was epic and a pleasure to watch.

[htDgExh8]

Race control did the right thing, there was enough crashes as it was.

[sbrscnds]

Poor taste Daniel.

Back to the point though, Whilst I agree that part of the race yesterday was needed to be halted and it was, I do think they dragged it out longer than was needed. Di Resta and Hamilton agreed the race should not have been started behind, mainly because they had the most to gain, but it once again robbed us of the squabble into turn 1. Its one of the most exciting starts on the calendar, and we missed out IMO. Nevermind, once the race had restarted after the final SC, it was epic and a pleasure to watch.

They stopped the race at the right time, I think everyone agrees on that. However, there is no point having wet tyres if drivers won't be allowed to use them so I really figure they should just do away with them.

Safety is always important but, between the safety car start and the drivers not being allowed to drive in fully wet conditions anymore apparently, then F1 should simply get rid of wet tyres if they won't be allowed to use them. I can imagine some of the greats cringing at what transpired yesterday. They are paid enough money to go out and race and they should do it in all conditions unless it is absolutely undrivable. I think most people would agree that after lap 30-31 the track was indeed very drivable.

[boiffrona]

They stopped the race at the right time, I think everyone agrees on that. However, there is no point having wet tyres if drivers won't be allowed to use them so I really figure they should just do away with them.

Safety is always important but, between the safety car start and the drivers not being allowed to drive in fully wet conditions anymore apparently, then F1 should simply get rid of wet tyres if they won't be allowed to use them. I can imagine some of the greats cringing at what transpired yesterday. They are paid enough money to go out and race and they should do it in all conditions unless it is absolutely undrivable. I think most people would agree that after lap 30-31 the track was indeed very drivable.

I think the other issue (besides the nature and intensity of the rain) is that the teams have thus far only had limited running (and for that matter, Pirelli too) on the wet tyres to understand how they perform.

I know that comes across as unprepared, but Pirelli were kind of shoe-horned in at almost the last minute, what with the usual FIA dithering on who to choose to replace the 'stones.

[sbrscnds]

I think the other issue (besides the nature and intensity of the rain) is that the teams have thus far only had limited running (and for that matter, Pirelli too) on the wet tyres to understand how they perform.

I know that comes across as unprepared, but Pirelli were kind of shoe-horned in at almost the last minute, what with the usual FIA dithering on who to choose to replace the 'stones.

A reasonable enough point but they are the best drivers in the world so they should be able to adapt to the new tyres fairly quickly. The only way they will get used to them is by using them in race pace, not behind a safety car at 1/3 the speed.

[Borrinas]

A reasonable enough point but they are the best drivers in the world so they should be able to adapt to the new tyres fairly quickly. The only way they will get used to them is by using them in race pace, not behind a safety car at 1/3 the speed.

Such a silly statement. When the planks are hitting water then there is NO way of controlling them AT ALL.

[sbrscnds]

Such a silly statement. When the planks are hitting water then there is NO way of controlling them AT ALL.

Which is why it was right to restart under the safety car but after about 5-6 laps of that they were ready to go racing. The SC car was kept out so long that some drivers were able to go straight onto intermediates so no point in having wet tyres if this is going to be the case.

[Borrinas]

Which is why it was right to restart under the safety car but after about 5-6 laps of that they were ready to go racing. The SC car was kept out so long that some drivers were able to go straight onto intermediates so no point in having wet tyres if this is going to be the case.

I agree that this wasn't good, but I think your whole argument is flawed.

[wrenjmerg]

Would IndyCar style jet dryers be of any use in this situation?

[qd0vhq4f]

I saw the spray but by the time the safety car went in it was dry enough for intermediates, that's my point. It should have come in sooner. No point in having wet tyres if it will always be too wet to use them before it is safe to race.

I long for the days of Donnington 93, Spain 96, Spa 98, Monza 97, Estoril 85 where they were told get out there and race, and no pussy footing crap.

I second that. When I saw the torrential rain I was 100% supportive of a red flag, but the safety car situation in the restart, ridiculous. And I think that yes, now F1 will race only in dry and intermediate conditions. Today, everything is like that