[Official] Rate the Grand Prix: British Grand Prix 2016

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Taking 3 hours or so to decide on a clear breach of the rules, and then impose a penalty that (if it sets a precedent) means the rule can readily be ignored seems ludicrous.

That's an interesting slant on the situation. So, if I understand you correctly, you're saying that Mercedes claim there was a terminal problem, which by definition means the car wouldn't finish the race. Then they sort it out with a radio instruction and the car finishes second. The stewards think a rule has been broken so demote the car to third. So the conclusion is, to avoid a retirement you break the rules and get docked one place. I find it hard to disagree with you, Lancsbreaker.

[Paradise City]

The rule wasn't broken when he gave the code. It was broken though when he then went further and talked about the gear.

[Tourer]

Gave it a 6 - was pretty good when the track was damp & variable, lousy when the cars ran behind the SC and pretty vanilla once the track had dried out.

[crmalcolm]

I agree that SC starts are not interesting to watch, and that racing only seems to begin once the track is dry enough for wets. I (glass-half-full) look at it in a different light though.

As long as I accept that F1 won't race on full wets, then they should be considered as the most effective means of drying the track. The first few laps behind the safety car served the purpose of drying out the track enough to allow the race to begin.
Had the drivers waited for the track to dry of its own accord, then it would have been a few hours before the race could begin - as shown by how long the 1st corner took to dry even when in use.

[steve_r]

7 from me. Verstappen taking the fight to the Mercs livens things up at the front. Not the greatest race ever, but drivers were on the edge of adhesion thanks to the slippery conditions. Could have been more interesting if the window to change from wets to inters and then to slicks was not quite so clear cut.

[Razzzor]

It's not just that we missed 10% of the race behind the SC, but that it would have been the best part of the race. We might have seen some wicked passing, maybe even a dipsh-t Mercedes spinning off or something.

The fact we had to wait so long that the race was no longer wet enough for wet tyres is ridiculous. Whiting is a complete idiot, assuming it was his decision.

I think the only thing saving this season from total boredom is Max Verstappen. We had a couple years of Merc domination, but I'm really over it now. It really sucks that there's only 2 drivers that can win an F1 race these days. Even if RB and Ferrari can get close, they never beat them because Merc can turn the cars up so much in qualifying so they've always got track position. I gotta admit, I look forward to GP2, V8 Supercars and Indycar more than an F1 race these days.

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

The fact we had to wait so long that the race was no longer wet enough for wet tyres is ridiculous. Whiting is a complete idiot, assuming it was his decision.

I suspect they are paranoid of having another Bianci style accident.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by JamesH

I suspect they are paranoid of having another Bianci style accident.

Well that's stupid if that's the case because if anything we've got the VSC to avoid incidents like that again

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Razor

About a 6. What was the go with the pace car start? Couldn't see any real danger that needed pace car intervention. Is F1 becoming more and more of a nanny series? The WEC is looking more and more interesting.

Mind you, we had 53 minutes behind the safety car at the start of Le Mans this year...... I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there to see it.......

[Adam43]

the WEC has always been interesting

But in namby pamby race starts that end up with too long under the SC the two series are on a par.

[fergus_r]

5. Some good spins at Abbey.

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Well that's stupid if that's the case because if anything we've got the VSC to avoid incidents like that again

So why do we still have physical safety cars if the VSC is so good?

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by JamesH

So why do we still have physical safety cars if the VSC is so good?

thats a good question? i suppose i would say that it would look really weird/unnatural if the race stared behind a VSC.

[dsg]

Originally Posted by JamesH

So why do we still have physical safety cars if the VSC is so good?

VSC is good for recovering a car/debris off track. The physical safety car bunches up the cars to allow a bigger gap between cars while track marshals are clearing up cars/debris between the white lines. But I think you knew that.


If organisers think it is too wet to race then send the cars around on more sighting laps. At Silverstone I think they could have given the drivers a couple of sighting laps and then had everyone grid up for a regular start. Apparently these F1 guys are quite skillful and can drive in difficult conditions.

[Notso Swift]

No physical gaps if they are rolling off the grid together though (!)

THe big thing I can think off is the Pace car is assessing the situation plus the lead drive gets the advantage of backing them up then choosing when to hit it

[wnut]

Originally Posted by JamesH

So why do we still have physical safety cars if the VSC is so good?

Depends on who is leading and how the championship is going as to whether you want to close the field up or not!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by wnut

Depends on who is leading and how the championship is going as to whether you want to close the field up or not!

A tad cynical?