Were pit stops safer before the speed limiter and refueling?
Discussion
I started watching F1 in about 1990 and one of the greatest spectacles was the cars running at full speed down the pit road.
Apart from Imola '94 I can't remember any serious incidents in the pits but now it seems like there are loads of problems with unsafe releases, pit crew being injured, faulty fuel hoses etc.
I think that the lollipop guys have got too complacent and are too eager to release a car, if another car was approaching at 120mph rather than 50mph they would have to think twice before lifting the lolly.
Apart from Imola '94 I can't remember any serious incidents in the pits but now it seems like there are loads of problems with unsafe releases, pit crew being injured, faulty fuel hoses etc.
I think that the lollipop guys have got too complacent and are too eager to release a car, if another car was approaching at 120mph rather than 50mph they would have to think twice before lifting the lolly.
sorry but i dont think you can commment on the lolli pop men unless you are/have been in the situation.
most of them are accidents that humans have. people make mistakes but its costly ones when playing with cars.
ferraris idea was good but needs some re designing.
speed limiters are a good safety feature with the amount of people it takes to do a pitstop at the moment.
although i think it would be better racing if they didnt do fuel stops.
most of them are accidents that humans have. people make mistakes but its costly ones when playing with cars.
ferraris idea was good but needs some re designing.
speed limiters are a good safety feature with the amount of people it takes to do a pitstop at the moment.
although i think it would be better racing if they didnt do fuel stops.
Always felt it was a massive shame when the pitlane speed limit was introduced. Wasn't it after the Imola 1994 series of incidents, this one due to Michele Alborto's Footwork losing a wheel on the way down pit lane, then it bouncing a worryingly long way into the crowd?
Previous to the pitlane limit, every car was tanked to the finish and the driver could choose how many stops he made for tyres based entirely on speed and wear rate, knowing that a stop would take maybe 10s (depending on how good the team were at swapping boots).
I recall McLaren managing 6s stops which seemed incredible at the time, and by being so fast they were gaining track position. Worked great. These days the pitstop duration is linked almost exactly to the amount of fuel going in, and that seems to me to dilute the effect the mechanics have on their car's placing.
Now a stop loses ~35s and fuelling pretty much takes the same time for everyone (give or take a second depending on fuel on board at the start) that aspect is lost.
[/rose tinted glasses]
As for improved safety - not convinced that removing one problem (170mph past pit garages) hasn't introduced another: the number of unsafe or marginal releases subjctively seems higher now than then.
Previous to the pitlane limit, every car was tanked to the finish and the driver could choose how many stops he made for tyres based entirely on speed and wear rate, knowing that a stop would take maybe 10s (depending on how good the team were at swapping boots).
I recall McLaren managing 6s stops which seemed incredible at the time, and by being so fast they were gaining track position. Worked great. These days the pitstop duration is linked almost exactly to the amount of fuel going in, and that seems to me to dilute the effect the mechanics have on their car's placing.
Now a stop loses ~35s and fuelling pretty much takes the same time for everyone (give or take a second depending on fuel on board at the start) that aspect is lost.
[/rose tinted glasses]
As for improved safety - not convinced that removing one problem (170mph past pit garages) hasn't introduced another: the number of unsafe or marginal releases subjctively seems higher now than then.
Having worked in a pit lane on a lot of occassions I can tell you that 50mph is still freeking fast enough.
There is not hope in hell of us going back to the days of unlimited speeds in the pits.
It is not likely that they will ban refuling for at least another 2 years.
What is more likely is that a minimum time will be set for the car to be stationary or the rules changed to require that a car can only be released from a pit box by the removal of a physical obstruction placed infront of the drivers forward facing vision (man with a lollipop!)
There is not hope in hell of us going back to the days of unlimited speeds in the pits.
It is not likely that they will ban refuling for at least another 2 years.
What is more likely is that a minimum time will be set for the car to be stationary or the rules changed to require that a car can only be released from a pit box by the removal of a physical obstruction placed infront of the drivers forward facing vision (man with a lollipop!)
FNG said:
Always felt it was a massive shame when the pitlane speed limit was introduced.
You won't find anyone working in the pitlane who would agree with that! It's scary enough as it is now thanks very much.You'd have to say Ferrari's current release system doesn't work. At least with a lollipop you have the chance to bop the driver on the head if things go wrong.
uktrailmonster said:
FNG said:
Always felt it was a massive shame when the pitlane speed limit was introduced.
You won't find anyone working in the pitlane who would agree with that! It's scary enough as it is now thanks very much.You'd have to say Ferrari's current release system doesn't work. At least with a lollipop you have the chance to bop the driver on the head if things go wrong.
Standing at the side of a motorway with cars and trucks passing at 56mph+ highlights just how damn fast it is, even if it looks snaily on telly.
Wouldn't realistically want or expect a return to those days, just seemed that the strategy of tyre choice worked a lot better.
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