http://www.fia.com/news/accident-panel
The FIA today published the accident panel report from the Bianchi incident at the Japanese Grand Prix, and their findings are indeed very interesting.
Firstly, the dry line was narrower at turn 7 because water "abruptly" started draining onto the track. This situation is similar, of course, to the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher flew into a run off area where a recovery vehicle was at work. Interlagos' drainage was reviewed after this incident, and it seems that a similar action will be undertaken at Suzuka.
The report finds that Bianchi was not slowing down enough and thus not adhering to the regulations, which means that virtual safety car has been recommended and implemented for 2015. Interestingly though, the fail safe in F1 appears to be to press the throttle and brake on full, which cuts the engine. However, the design at Marussia inhibited the fail safe option; this clearly needs to be the focus of scrutineering in future.
The suggestion of canopies for the car or skirts on the crane have been dismissed, with the panel stating that they should not focus on keeping crashes safe between large vehicles and racing cars, rather keeping racing cars from large vehicles.
There is a large implied criticism, too, of Bernie Ecclestone and Honda. The panel recommends that the four hour window for completing a race is held entirely in daylight; thus all races should start four hours before sundown. It has also been suggested that races avoid rainy seasons; this suggestion if implemented will significantly affect the timing of races in Sepang.
Hopefully, the accident panel's recommendations will be implemented and lessons will have been learned from a serious accident. But it is also encouraging that steps have already been taken, and it is equally encouraging that it required so many things to fail for this to happen, such that the risk of a repeat is unlikely.
Finally, it is important not to let the implication of Bianchi's blame by the panel dull the desire that he pulls through his injuries with the minimum possible effects, even if the situation is grim.
#ForzaJules
The FIA today published the accident panel report from the Bianchi incident at the Japanese Grand Prix, and their findings are indeed very interesting.
Firstly, the dry line was narrower at turn 7 because water "abruptly" started draining onto the track. This situation is similar, of course, to the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher flew into a run off area where a recovery vehicle was at work. Interlagos' drainage was reviewed after this incident, and it seems that a similar action will be undertaken at Suzuka.
The report finds that Bianchi was not slowing down enough and thus not adhering to the regulations, which means that virtual safety car has been recommended and implemented for 2015. Interestingly though, the fail safe in F1 appears to be to press the throttle and brake on full, which cuts the engine. However, the design at Marussia inhibited the fail safe option; this clearly needs to be the focus of scrutineering in future.
The suggestion of canopies for the car or skirts on the crane have been dismissed, with the panel stating that they should not focus on keeping crashes safe between large vehicles and racing cars, rather keeping racing cars from large vehicles.
There is a large implied criticism, too, of Bernie Ecclestone and Honda. The panel recommends that the four hour window for completing a race is held entirely in daylight; thus all races should start four hours before sundown. It has also been suggested that races avoid rainy seasons; this suggestion if implemented will significantly affect the timing of races in Sepang.
Hopefully, the accident panel's recommendations will be implemented and lessons will have been learned from a serious accident. But it is also encouraging that steps have already been taken, and it is equally encouraging that it required so many things to fail for this to happen, such that the risk of a repeat is unlikely.
Finally, it is important not to let the implication of Bianchi's blame by the panel dull the desire that he pulls through his injuries with the minimum possible effects, even if the situation is grim.
#ForzaJules