Ask The Apex

[Brian_W_Lawrence]

Perhaps there is a fourth stop & go somewhere.

Reviewing some of the data:

Buemi (lap 20) Malaysia - Pit-lane speeding
Perez (lap 50) China - collision with Sutil
Schumacher (lap 16) Britain - collision with Kobayashi
Kobayashi (lap 20) Britain - unsafe pit release

 

[Brian_W_Lawrence]

There were 32 starters in the 1961 Italian GP. Has there ever been any more starters in a GP?

The German GP 1953 had 34 starters.
Italy 1961 is 2nd, then three races with 31 -
GBR 1952, USA 1972 & BEL 1974

 

[mjo]

Thanks

 

[Jen]

OK, not being remotely technical - how much input is there from the original engine manufacturers when it comes to engine mapping in readiness for racing? Do the manufacturers just supply the engines and leave it at that or do they suggest best case?

 

[teabagyokel]

I have seen guys in white 'n' yellow shirts in the back of the Red Bull garage, if that's any help!

 

[KekeTheKing]

Haven't heard this little nugget mentioned anywhere. On Sunday Lewis made it four GP in a row where a different World Champion won. I believe this might be a record. There have been plenty of occasions where a mix of former and future World Champions have won (at least) 4 races in succession, but I haven't found an occasion where four men who had already won a title won four races on the trot.

 

[sushifiesta]

Here's a question for you knowledgeable people - what's the record for the least amount of retirements in an F1 season? I'm pretty sure 2011 is looking like beating it, at least if it's calculated as retirements per car per race, because we've seen rock solid reliability this year.

 

[Brogan]

When I get back to my PC, I can check the database file as every single race finish has a reason code.

Won't be until tonight though.

 

[sushifiesta]

I've gone through the year so far and counted 42 retirements (not classified drivers), or just under 4 retirements per race on average, which gives around a 16.3% chance that any particular driver won't finish a race.

 

[Brogan]

I make it 42 retirements so far: http://cliptheapex.com/pages/2011-results/

 

[sushifiesta]

Yep I've fixed it now, I'd only counted 8 out of the 11 races so far for some reason

 

[KekeTheKing]

What about penalties? We must be headed for a new high there as well.

I think McNish might be going for the record by himself.

 

[Galahad]

Does anyone know of a resource that gives the compound of tyre a driver set their fastest qualifying lap time on in each of the three sessions, for the current season?

 

[sushifiesta]

To follow up on my post yesterday I've looked at 2009 and 2010 as well:

2009 - 58 retirements, 17.2% chance that any particular driver will retire.
2010 - 106 retirements, 23.3% chance that any particular driver will retire.

Looking at the percentages both are higher than this year so far, although 2009 is close. I guess there was a jump up in 2010 due to the arrival of the new teams.

 

[Grizzly]

I guess there was a jump up in 2010 due to the arrival of the new teams.

Yeah, thats what i was thinking as i read your stats...

Does anyone know of a resource that gives the compound of tyre a driver set their fastest qualifying lap time on in each of the three sessions, for the current season?

There is, but i can't remember where and it doesn't appear in my bookmarks

 

[FB]

Is the driver on pole allowed to choose, or ask the clerk of the course, to change the side of the grid pole starts from?

 

[Slyboogy]

Not if Balestre is in charge

 

[RasputinLives]

sorry to put another question in to play but is there any sign of the 13th team to make the field up to 26 that we were promised? Are the FIA accepting applications this year?

 

[Andrea_Moda_Rules]

No news, apart from an april Fools artictle.

I think perhaps FIA and any prospective new teams will be focusing on making an application for 2013 with the New engine Rules.

 

[Fenderman]

Is the driver on pole allowed to choose, or ask the clerk of the course, to change the side of the grid pole starts from?

I've been scouring the reg's - including FIA's F1 sporting and technical reg's, circuit design and inspection reg's, International Sporting Code and loads of annexes, appendices, etc. and haven't found anything at all to say one way or another.

When I googled variations of your question I got this somewhat bizarre result:

http://www.formuleblonde.com/articles/articles.php?cat=11&id=477&com=0

I have a very foggy memory of a pole position being moved but when and where I can't recall. Malaysia and Schumacher keep jumping into my head when I think about your poser!