Grand Prix 2017 United States Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

And so we enter the final phase of the 2017 season and we are now at the point where the points leading driver can win the title should his rival finish lower than a certain position (in this case, 4th I believe). It just so happens that we arrive at a track where the Mercedes team have always ran well having won the last 3 races held there. Also, of the 5 races held to date, Hamilton has won 4 of them and his title rival Sebastian Vettel the other.

Quite why Ferrari have managed to implode in the second half of the season remains to be seen. Kimi hasn't really been in the races all year and Seb seems to be losing the plot at every opportunity. The increasing speed, reliability and confidence from the Red Bull camp has not helped matters but any hope of this season being a close two way battle between Vettel and Hamilton disappeared a long time ago. Only a monumental disaster could stop Hamilton from winning the title now.

As for the track, its always been a popular one with drivers, teams and fans and to be honest definitely rates as one of the least worst 'Tilkedromes'. Turn one has given us some exciting moments in previous races and Nico Rosberg credits Hamilton's wide elbows in 2015 for giving him the drive to take the 2016 title as he vowed not to let a driver do that to him again. The remainder of the track contains a few nods to various circuits around the world.

The thorn in Mercedes side at the last few races has been Red Bull and they will be waiting to pounce should they get the chance of a run at the Mercedes cars.

You know that F1 is in something of a state when outside of the top 6 the odds of another car winning a race have been quoted by some book makers as 1000/1. There are many squabbles throughout the midfield with those all important points bringing home an extra few million dollars. With the departure of Jolyon Palmer from Renault all eyes will be on Carlos Sainz to see if he can get closer to Hulkenberg. Meanwhile back at Sainz's old team, Daniel Kyvat is set to make his latest comeback to racing.

Can Hamilton win the title here then?

 

[Bill Boddy]

It is not rocket science to design corners where if you go out of limits you lose time. If you lay down a wide piece of tarmac and then put a kerb on it which a car can go over without any need to slow then this will happen; racing drivers will take every whatever advantage they can get.

 

[Dartman]

If we are to have wide safe run off areas then the curbs need to be of a design that having exceeded the track you need slow right down to regain the track at specific points rather than continue at high speed around a bollard to regain the track

 

[RasputinLives]

How about sensor technology? 3 strikes and a drive thru, another 3 strikes and a stop and go, up to 9 and black flag. Any strikes during overtaking or defending result in an instant 5 second penalty. Obviously stewards can instantly remove a strike if it was deemed a driver left the track due to safety issues or an error.

The sensor could instantly detect and alert the driver so they'd know themselves. Give it a couple of races and I bet we'd see hardly any.

 

[TR]

If they would go with sensor technology, I would go with a more organic penalty. Leave the track? Lose electric deployment for X seconds, where X is tuned such that it is impossible to gain an advantage from leaving the track, but not so much to be catastrophic when leaving the track to avoid an accident.

 

[RasputinLives]

There would be a safety issue with automatically reducing the cars speed. If a car goes four wheels off the track and the speed reduction kicks in but instantly rejoins the racing line you'd have a car suddenly going slower than it should in direct line of traffic. Bound to lead to accidents.

 

[Andyoak]

Chamfered kerbs would be enough; safe enough to ride over without tipping the car, but vertical on the run-off face so you're forced to drive through the trap to the end of the corner.

 

[sobriety]

The trouble with those is they can send an already out of control car airborne if it hits them side on, they're also pretty bad for downed motorbike racers.

 

[Andyoak]

In that case tyre shredding run-off; kevlar and leather will be fine for the bikers.

 

[TR]

RasputinLives It would not be any more dangerous then the engine derating because maximum deployment for the lap has been reached, which happens all the time. It is not like the system would hit the brakes. You would just be down on power for a bit.

 

[RasputinLives]

I understand what you are saying but I Don't think the FIA will ever sign off on a system that could possibly place slower moving cars in places drivers wouldn't expect to find them.

 

[gethinceri]

Gravel traps.

 

[marksawatsky]

I'm confident that there is an engineering solution for kerbing that would effectively punish drivers for cutting corners that could also be adjusted for when the bikes race. There must be a height or profile design that would discourage running off the track that also wouldn't be dangerous.

 

[Chasz]

Gravel traps.

I'm with gethinceri on this. Just put a bit of gravel on the edge of the kerbs (and then for safety reasons tarmac beyond this strip of gravel).

Desired effect achieved!

 

[F1Brits_90]

How about sensor technology? 3 strikes and a drive thru, another 3 strikes and a stop and go, up to 9 and black flag. Any strikes during overtaking or defending result in an instant 5 second penalty. Obviously stewards can instantly remove a strike if it was deemed a driver left the track due to safety issues or an error.

The sensor could instantly detect and alert the driver so they'd know themselves. Give it a couple of races and I bet we'd see hardly any.

that system I know very well from F1 games on playstation, were if you cut a corner too much you get a certain amount of warnings then you get a 5 sec penalty if its consistent. which if that happened in Austin you cant complain because as they say. the stewards would go well he already accrued 3 strikes in the other 56 laps & so no other choice

 

[P1]

I think all you guys who talk about gravel traps, water, electronic slow down, etc. are all wrong and suggesting totally impractical ideas.

This track is used by driving clubs, car manufacturers for driving experience events, motor journalist demonstrations, car club track days, etc. People like the fact that they can drive this track without destroying a car if they go off the track. So you need these areas.

The best solution is the one Nicki Lauda suggested: Allow all drivers to use 100% of the track surface with no penalties except for dangerous behavior and accidents. If the racing line ends up crossing the curbs so be it. That would eliminate the issue.

 

[Il_leone]

I am one for gravel traps and grass in order to deter drivers from cutting corners and going over the kerbs. The real drivers know how to keep the car on the track without making a mistake.. I love it during the days when if you put the wheel on the kerb the chances are you will probably spin and be in a gravel trap

Now run off areas makes it too easy not to punish drivers for errors

MotoGP are having a laugh at the moment because of Sunday's farce no wonder people are turning off F1

 

[Kewee]

Build a WALL.

 

[gethinceri]

Get the Mexicans to pay for it!

 

[RasputinLives]

The best solution is the one Nicki Lauda suggested: Allow all drivers to use 100% of the track surface with no penalties except for dangerous behavior and accidents. If the racing line ends up crossing the curbs so be it. That would eliminate the issue.

What's the point in doing a track lay out them. Just shove em on an airfield and let em do what they want.

 

[Rutherford]

Good old green English grass should do the trick. End off.