To Fuel or Not to Fuel - That is the Question

[RaiseYourFist]

They tried 1 tire for the whole race in 2005 but weren't too thrilled with the state of the tires at the end of the race changed back for 2006.

[fourWheelDrift]

Change tyres whenever you want, not a problem your choice to be a little slower because of tyre choice/driving style/set up and go the whole race or be more aggressive in those three areas and therefore faster but stop 1,2 or 3 times for tyres. Of course that implies no requirement to use two types of tyre but that particular stupid rule was a poor attempt to replace some of the racing and unpredictability we lost when refuelling was introduced.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by RaiseYourFist

They tried 1 tire for the whole race in 2005 but weren't too thrilled with the state of the tires at the end of the race changed back for 2006.

Actually it was quite successful....if you happened to be on Michelins.They even gave Bridgestone a chance to catch up at Indy.

Nothing at all wrong with race distance tyres IMO.

[Dutton]

I would say allow tyre changes, but with some alteration to the present.

I would propose three compunds per race. Have the hardest and softest significantly different (way, way beyond the difference between the two at present), with the middle one a more generic compound (it wouldn't alter nearly as much from race-to-race).

Remove this annoying compulsory compound use thing. Leave it completely open, without having to choose tyres before qualifying or the race (or anything similarly controlling).

Just have the three compounds arranged in such a way that multiple pit strategies are viable for the race. Pitting thrice, twice, or once being quite viable (maybe even zero being an outside bet, given certain circumstances). Have it so it is a tough call.

[racer69]

I'm in full agreeance with banning re-fuelling as well.

Another factor could be drivers, with such heavy cars, running less wing again to make up some time on the straights (meaning they'd be slower again in the corners)

Bottom line is i think racing should be done on the track, i find passing because of pitstops & 2 or 3 stop strategies pretty tedious (though i will admit, found them quite a novelty back in 1994, but it wore off after a while)

[Casper]

Bernie is on a cost saving binge right now, think of all the money it would save in motel bills, food for the refuelling crews, etc. it should be a no brainer as our American friends would say. Let's ban refuelling.

[RaiseYourFist]

The pitcrews would still be there to set up the cars before the race so I don't think they are going to save any money that way.

[m1fcf]

Originally Posted by Graz

There should be no fuel stops. Races should be won on the track. It's an art form in itself to set up a car that's good on heavy fuel at the start, gradually lightening through the race and light at the end. Drivers would have to think more about looking after tyres and such like instead of the three flat out sprints that exist now. It would improve the racing imo.

Why not have an impartial pit crew at the start of pit lane that does *all* fuel and tyres stops for *all* teams?

The "FIA Pit Crew" have a team capable of handling two cars at a time. The tactics of the teams now becomes second guessing what the other teams are doing so that they can ensure an empty pit-box.

For Safety Car periods, the pitlane opens after the safety car passes for the first time, and closes when the Safety Car starts it's in lap.

Penalties are served in an "FIA Penalty Box" at the exit of Pit Lane, and drivers are allowed to refuel/change tyres but must do so at the "FIA Pit Box"

For any other work, the car then proceeds to their own pit box to replace/adjust the wings, put a new drinking bottle in for the driver, stop for a sandwich....

[S.Moss]

Oh and the lollipop man just happends to stand there for a few extra seconds when its a mclaren pitstop to let the red cars through... the FIA are bias enough, without giving them more control to fix race results!

[duke_toaster]

Aside from the penalty box that idea simply wouldn't work.

As for fuel loads I don't see a need to ban refuelling - just a slight change to the regulations to have a lockout or maybe just ban dropping the cars from the jacks with the hose in.

[Dutton]

A dedicated crew that works on all teams? That is a truly terrible idea (this isn't merely IMO - it is an objective fact that it is a terrible idea). Apart from it being totally pointless, and logistically/practically impossible, I just don't think I could handle the endless furore kicked up by the conspiracy theorists.

[m1fcf]

Originally Posted by Dutton

the endless furore kicked up by the conspiracy theorists.

But think of the TV coverage you could get from it....
- CSI:F1
- When Good Pitstops go Bad
- Police Camera PitStop
- Ready Steady Courtcase

And we really should give DC something to talk about if the rumours of the BBC deal are to be believed.

[Matt]

Refuelling isn't dangerous. It's the F1 pitstop procedure that's dangerous. Yes, lets stick 30 guys out int he path of a moving car before it has stopped!

How about this, keep the car on the jacks until all the fuel is in it, and the hose is safely out. Would completely eradicate what happened the past few races.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Matt

How about this, keep the car on the jacks until all the fuel is in it, and the hose is safely out. Would completely eradicate what happened the past few races.

I wouldn't want to be the front 'jack guy'!

[Matt]

Let the front down first. That way, the guy can clear out from the front, and the rear guy can lower.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Matt

Let the front down first. That way, the guy can clear out from the front, and the rear guy can lower.

But now I wouldn't want to be the rear jack guy.

[Matt]

Why not? You just let the car down as normal.

[m1fcf]

except, by the time the rear wheels hit the floor, they ar already spinning, and the rea jack guy now gets dragged down the pitlane.

I believe it is ferrari that have set a precedent for this sort of thing in the past?

[mattt]

Maybe they should stop using jack men, and use hydraulic jacks like in a ot of other series

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by m1fcf

except, by the time the rear wheels hit the floor, they ar already spinning, and the rea jack guy now gets dragged down the pitlane.

I believe it is ferrari that have set a precedent for this sort of thing in the past?

I'm not sure about ever seeing someone getting dragged down the pitlane (they can just let go!), but, in 1995, Herbert, at the Catalunya GP, driving for Benneton (sp?), zoomed off down the pitlane with the rear-jack still attached.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by mattt

Maybe they should stop using jack men, and use hydraulic jacks like in a ot of other series

But that would be too easy. :P This is Formula One after all, where the most complicated **** is the 'right' way.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Dutton

I'm not sure about ever seeing someone getting dragged down the pitlane (they can just let go!), but, in 1995, Herbert, at the Catalunya GP, driving for Benneton (sp?), zoomed off down the pitlane with the rear-jack still attached.

Not down the pitlane, but nobody can let got fast enough to not be dragged a few meters, enough to cause injury.

Is there a technical reason for not having airjacks?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

Is there a technical reason for not having air-jacks?

I can't think why it couldn't be done,but then I can't think why it should be necessary to refuel anyway.

You'd only use the jacks to put the wheels on anyway,so you've still got the fuel rig (and the refueler) attached to the car.I suppose that you could combine the fuel hose going in to operate the jacks and then the fuel hose coming out to release the jacks.It would of course have to be a standard system.

[Dutton]

Williams experimented with them that one year. I think it must've been 2003, since they were pretty competitive I recall. They had issues more than once, but the best was when they were 1-3 on the grid at Spa, but some problem with the software left the two of them up on their jacks as the field pulled past them. Still, for sure, if it was mandated that automatic jacks had to be used, well, then they would made to work (any initial problems would swiftly be ironed out).

I have presumed that it was these negative experiences that have caused the teams to keep away from it. Of course, you can likely bet Williams' technology for the jacks was some needlessly high-tech-complicated system (as opposed to basic but effective). That is the point of F1, though, IMO.

Why should it be a standardised system? Let the teams work it out. Look at the raging success the standardised Fuel rigs have been.

[AMG Fan]

I don't think banning refuelling would dramatically improve the spectacle. For example, you've got a train of cars at Hungaroring, they all have full tanks - how will that improve the racing?

No, what should improve the racing is next years cars, with far less aerodynamic pieces and slick tyres.