Raises an interesting point on the matter of safety

[Likes Fast Cars]

Saw this when browsing the internet this evening. Bit rich for Charlie to be pointing the finger at one of F1's elder statesmen, isn't it?

Or does he have a point?


http://www.grandprix247.com/2014/07/09/whiting-lau...

[CBR JGWRR]

If someone like Lauda says it, then safety probably has gone too far.

[Likes Fast Cars]

That's what stood out for me, a man who was as good as dead after a horrendous accident yet still wants to push the limits and keep it exciting. He's impressed me in his role at Mercedes as he always seems to want to see hard (but fair0 racing.

[skeggysteve]

I think Charlie got it right and Niki is wrong.

Charlie didn't know how Kimi was and he track was littered with half a Ferrari.

Charlie would have been taking advice from track worked on scene, Niki wouldn't be able to hear all that.

Don't get me wrong most of the time Niki is spot on but IMHO not this time.

[zac510]

I took Lauda's point to be mostly a complaint about time (60 minutes) rather than safety. If a swam of worker bees with grinders and rattle guns had leapt out of that van and replaced the railing in 20 minutes there wouldn't have been enough extra air time for Lauda to rant.

[John D.]

Lauda's view that chance of another car hitting that section was 'zero' doesn't really fly in this day and age of risk assessments and H&S law. Race direction did the right thing repairing armco IMHO. Just took too long doing it.

[Lost soul]

Charlie Whiting is a paid semi autonomous drone

[Jasandjules]

When it comes to allowing racing drivers to fight tooth and nail for wins, Nikki has it spot on.

When it comes to safety in this case however, I can't help but think that stopping the race and fixing the Armco was the right thing to do.

[Likes Fast Cars]

Lost soul said:

Charlie Whiting is a paid semi autonomous drone

He should refund whatever he gets paid....

[lord summerisle]

John D. said:

Lauda's view that chance of another car hitting that section was 'zero' doesn't really fly in this day and age of risk assessments and H&S law. Race direction did the right thing repairing armco IMHO. Just took too long doing it.

That section of barrier has been hit several times this year, i believe a Lamborghini went it very heavily just recently - so to leave it weakened and damaged wasnt an option.

[Le TVR]

zac510 said:

If a swam of worker bees with grinders and rattle guns had leapt out of that van and replaced the railing in 20 minutes there wouldn't have been enough extra air time for Lauda to rant.

^^This^^

It was pitiful to watch a couple of blokes with spanners trying to change all those rails. And yes, Niki was more concerned about 1 hour being a joke than anything else. The interview seemed to be trying to overdo the safety line - probably to kill time.

[hairyben]

Grey suit people like whiting should be careful about criticising the sports legends, even if they think they deserve it, they should know better. At the most, feint praise about the differences in opinion between superbrave drivers and those in charge would have made the point more succinctly.

Reminds me of spanky having a public spat with Jackie Stewart after his witch-hunt comments and just coming across as a massive tit.

[Mr_Thyroid]

Lauda wrong to say the armco was ok.

Right that it took too long.

[Mojocvh]

Perhaps the circuit were aware of and wished to counter something like this @ 08:55 in the linked video below?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4rwzJpLTBY

I think NL likes to stir it up sometimes, ya know

[thetrash]

Likes Fast Cars said:

Lost soul said:

Charlie Whiting is a paid semi autonomous drone

He should refund whatever he gets paid....

So we should go back to the 50s/60s/70s levels of safety then?

[speedking31]

John D. said:

Lauda's view that chance of another car hitting that section was 'zero' doesn't really fly in this day and age of risk assessments and H&S law. Race direction did the right thing repairing armco IMHO. Just took too long doing it.

The near zero probability argument can be applied to any specific 5 m length of Armco, and therefore it could all be removed without affecting safety

[m444ttb]

I was surprised it took so long but disagree that it was unnecessary. The fact there was barrier there and a car hit proves this.

[Munter]

They didn't appear to replace a post. So why not just have a few spare techpro barrier sections, then when a barrier is damaged like that, fix the techpro in front of the damage up against the barrier. Carry on.

[FourWheelDrift]

Whiting + Blash + Ecclestone = ex-Brabham team, jobs for the old boys network.

3 men speak only 1 man's voice is heard.

[anonymous-user]

thetrash said:

Likes Fast Cars said:

Lost soul said:

Charlie Whiting is a paid semi autonomous drone

He should refund whatever he gets paid....

So we should go back to the 50s/60s/70s levels of safety then?

You saying Charlie Whiting is responsible for the developments in safety? Really?