News
F1 drivers welcome FIA’s red flag restart changes
The problem with drivers getting warmer tires as they prepared to restart was highlighted by multiple incidents at the Australian Grand Prix when they had to follow the safety car until it went out.
The issue was discussed at length at Friday’s driver briefing in Baku, and the FIA lobbied teams on Saturday morning before confirming the new procedure.
The safety car will now leave the pit lane with lights turned off 30 seconds before the start of the race, giving drivers a better chance to set their pace, build distance and heat up their tyres.
GPDA director George Russell said the FIA’s response to their concerns had been positive.
“We all had a good chat,” Russell said when asked by Autosport about the changes. “First, all the drivers got together and talked after Melbourne.
“I thought it was interesting today (in the Baku sprint on Saturday) we were two laps behind the VSC, we kept the tires warm. The safety car came out and then we were 20 seconds slower each lap, within a lap , I lost 10 degrees of tire temperature.
“I think now the FIA finally understands that taking the safety car out in situations like this can sometimes lead to more accidents because you lose tire temperature.
“So that’s the whole rationale behind this rule change. We need to continue to improve. I think we all hope that the FIA is now more open to our views and discussions. Time will tell.”
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG
Photograph: Sam Bloxham / motorsport pictures
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, one of the drivers involved in the Melbourne restart chaos, agreed it was a positive response from the FIA.
“I think it’s the right direction,” the Spaniard said. “We asked the FIA and we were very direct with them yesterday, straight to the point what we need to avoid as many crashes as we have in Australia.
“They seem to have embraced the feedback positively and acted on it immediately, which is exactly what we need in terms of safety and driver focus, and it’s a good step and good progress in our partnership.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris stressed that tire temperature issues were not always taken seriously.
“When 20 drivers sit behind the wheel and witness how difficult certain conditions can be when the weather turns cold and the tires turn cold, we risk making ourselves look like a bunch of idiots, as happened in Australia,” Norris said. explain.
“It’s just because you don’t realize sometimes how tricky it is. I know we have big, beautiful tyres, and it looks unbelievable.
“But when you’re driving, it’s trickier than people think. At the same time, from a safety point of view, we want to make the sport better, we want it to be closer and more fun. Because when It’s more fun, and it’s more fun for us.
“I think it’s fine when we say something to help the car and the sport. Then when things are put into action, it gets better. But when things are said, but don’t change, it’s not the best. the result of.”
While Fernando Alonso is not yet in contention for a win in 2023, the Spaniard’s performance in a relatively strong Aston Martin looks like a comeback. With a slightly better car, the nearly 42-year-old F1 driver could challenge Max Verstappen. A fight that everyone, including Pedro de la Rosa, wanted to see.
The new composites department will be based at the same factory McLaren used before it moved its huge MTC facility two miles away from Woking center in 2003, and will start production later this summer.
The team believes the investment in its new manufacturing process is comparable to other major infrastructure upgrades that are also nearing completion, including its new MTC wind tunnel and F1 driving simulator.
It is equipping the new composites facility with the latest machines needed for this type of work, compared to the tools it already uses.
By moving the composites department to a dedicated stand-alone facility away from the MTC, it is understood McLaren will save significant time in the production of parts for its F1 machines, as well as the initial build process for new cars.
Speaking about the department relocation for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella explained: “I am delighted to say that the old factory has been converted into the new McLaren racing complex.
“This is really the final sprint and it will be done in a few months. It’s an amazing project.
“We’ve created some space at the MTC that we’ll use for traditional cars.”
McLaren old Formula 1 factory
Photography: McLaren
McLaren also owns another building near the old site, which is about to open as a new composites factory, and which currently houses most of its historic F1 car collection – although the MTC still has a large collection.
The warehouse for extra legacy machinery (pictured above) is also used to store spare kits – such as F1 weekend garage and pit wall components – for use by the McLaren team.
Once the legacy car is moved and permanently displayed on MTC’s famous Front Boulevard area, it will continue to be used to house such equipment.
Autosport was part of a select group of media who toured the building that currently houses the heritage collection outside the MTC, with team chief operating officer Piers Thynne outlining why historic cars and other elements – including parts Original drawings and the laptops needed to start and maintain old cars – an important development for McLaren.
McLaren old Formula 1 factory
Photography: McLaren
“The legacy teams are definitely part of the Formula 1 organization and it’s an interesting story as to why they’re there (away from the MTC in the current building),” Thynne said.
“We have invested heavily in various infrastructure projects in Formula 1, which has allowed us to have a longer ‘holiday’ in the warehouse than we originally wanted.
“But it’s related to our long-term infrastructure projects — wind tunnels, simulators, new complex facilities and other work that’s going on at the MTC.
“So, they’re on vacation there, they’re going to be back at the MTC at the end of the year, and rightly in front of the house on the boulevard.
“It’s important to have these show cars around us to remind everyone of our rich history.
“Apart from our day-to-day work, any inspiration (McLaren employees) might need, you can see it on the way to lunch or for a drink.”
At the Spanish Grand Prix, F1 entered a dedicated permanent track for the first time since the season opener in Bahrain. Due to the nature of the Circuit de Catalunya, teams usually implement a lot of upgrade packages on their cars, as it is well known that if a team performs well in Barcelona, they stand a good chance of doing well for most of the remainder of the calendar. repertoire.
Fernando vs Verstappen; who beats whom? 'Man, that is hard'
McLaren repurposes old F1 factory as new composites facility
Explained: Ferrari's ambitious upgrades for the SF-23 in Barcelona
F1 drivers fear unintended consequences of Barcelona track changes
Windsor: 'Bad news for competition that Verstappen is SO relaxed'
F1 needs stewards rethink to replace “laymen” decisions, demands Steiner
Shovlin sees familiar pattern: 'The longruns look good'
What we learned from Friday practice at F1’s 2023 Spanish GP
Verstappen sees technical headliner move to McLaren: 'At such an offer…'
Leaving F1 rules unchanged will let rivals catch up to Red Bull
-
News2 months agoSainz Australian GP penalty review had sufficient new evidence
-
News2 months agoFIA dismisses Sainz’s F1 Australian GP penalty review
-
Videos2 months agoPiastri opens up on F1 home race debut in Australia
-
News2 months agoHorner criticises FIA choice: 'Absolutely ludicrous'
-
News2 months agoMinardi: ‘Moving AlphaTauri from Faenza would be very difficult’
-
News2 months agoFull FIA stewards’ verdict on Sainz’s Australian GP penalty
-
News2 months agoCompetition for Verstappen in Baku? 'He is extra motivated now'
-
News2 months agoMcLaren hopeful because of Red Bull: 'This is what gives them big advantage'