Poll Is it time for cockpit canopies ?
- Thread starter Greenlantern101
- Start date
What about when marshals are waving a green flag right next the recovery vehicle.
Yes seeing the green flag in the distance does not mean the section of track a driver is on is green, it means the track past the green flag is green and so the driver has to physically pass that point before he can put his boot back down, I thought that was self explanatory though but maybe not...
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Mephistopheles Bruno Senna, speaking on Sky F1 today, confirmed that this is the case, and that the drivers have no problem understanding that.
Hmm. I just said the same thing on here about the idea of a "Virtual Safety Car"::
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29566864
Fernando Alonso said:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29566864
It surprises me that so much noise is being made about the "solution" to a problem being enclosed cockpits. The solution lies in correct utilisation of warning signals and adherence thereto, using appropriate means of extricating vehicles from hazardous locations and penalising transgressors of rules very harshly indeed.
It seems to be the default response gethinceri
That shows how insufficiently the rules are applied.
Yes the rules do seem to be applied on a; We got away with it, attitude until somebody doesn't and instead of enforcing or following the rules everyone starts clucking about better safety...
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Hmm, indeed so.
It is frustrating when incidents where no injury results are held as examples of the benefit of enclosed cockpits, Spa 2012 particularly.
It is frustrating when incidents where no injury results are held as examples of the benefit of enclosed cockpits, Spa 2012 particularly.
rufus_mcdufus
Champion Elect
I have to admit I haven't heard anythnig at all from the FIA regarding cockpit canopies in response to this latest accident. In fact everything I've read about them is on here!
I'd be interested to know what the probability of a driver's head being directly hit in a collision with another car is (from whatever angle/height of impact). The window of opportunity (for want of a better phrase) for it to happen must be very small I think, if you watch the collisions the design of the sidepods and momentum of the cars seems to direct them away from the head even if it has been very close on several occasions. I'm sure this sort of analysis would be possible. Ultimately, the only incident in F1 that I can remember that would have been prevented by a canopy is Massa's accident in 2009.
At the same time, I'm not sure the risk of getting stuck in a closed cockpit during a fire is a valid reason not to use a canopy, considering how rare fires are in modern F1. Also, drivers already have to remove the skirting around the cockpit (can't remember its official name...) to be able to get out the car and it's feasible that a canopy could be designed to be removable similarly quickly. Again, it needs analysis of all the various options and the pros and cons involved. I don't believe I, or possibly even the FIA, have enough information to state whether a canopy would provide a significant safety benefit with all factors considered. I think it's the FIA's responsibility to do undertake a serious analysis and if they do conclude there is a large advantage it would be their responsibility to find a way to implement it, frankly.
However, it would have made no difference for Bianchi considering there was no direct impact to his head, as others have said, so the prevention of a recurrence of that sort of incident is a completely different question. The FIA have stated they are going to investigate ways of enforcing a larger reduction in speed when there are yellow flags as well as looking at the possibility of adding skirts to recovery vehicles. Both of these are appropriate responses.
My vote considering safety reasons is "I don't know". From purely an aesthetic point of view I'd prefer them not to be introduced but that shouldn't really come in to it.
At the same time, I'm not sure the risk of getting stuck in a closed cockpit during a fire is a valid reason not to use a canopy, considering how rare fires are in modern F1. Also, drivers already have to remove the skirting around the cockpit (can't remember its official name...) to be able to get out the car and it's feasible that a canopy could be designed to be removable similarly quickly. Again, it needs analysis of all the various options and the pros and cons involved. I don't believe I, or possibly even the FIA, have enough information to state whether a canopy would provide a significant safety benefit with all factors considered. I think it's the FIA's responsibility to do undertake a serious analysis and if they do conclude there is a large advantage it would be their responsibility to find a way to implement it, frankly.
However, it would have made no difference for Bianchi considering there was no direct impact to his head, as others have said, so the prevention of a recurrence of that sort of incident is a completely different question. The FIA have stated they are going to investigate ways of enforcing a larger reduction in speed when there are yellow flags as well as looking at the possibility of adding skirts to recovery vehicles. Both of these are appropriate responses.
My vote considering safety reasons is "I don't know". From purely an aesthetic point of view I'd prefer them not to be introduced but that shouldn't really come in to it.
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Canopies were first mention by Smedley after China.
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-smedley-closed-cockpits-easy-161043819--f1.html
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/formula-1-smedley-closed-cockpits-easy-161043819--f1.html
It does look like very real enforced speed limits will be 'tried out' in Austin. The FIA are also looking at modifying tractors so they are safer to crash into. At least some good is coming of this. Now we just need Jules to pull through please.
rufus_mcdufus
Champion Elect
That is a good move I think. Canopies are a little bit of a red herring in that the Bianchi incident has brought to the fore other areas of risk that can be improved fairly easily - minimising recovery vehicles on track, modifying recovery vehicles, and enforcing speed limits/deltas under warning conditions. I'm sure there's other areas that I'm missing too.
Anything that makes racing safer gets my vote. I want to watch racing, not people dying. The danger aspect has no appeal for me.
But enclosed cockpits would not necessarily make racing safer Greenlantern101.
disagree
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