F1 Drivers to be banned from getting radio performance help

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/11/drivers-banned-radio-f1-help

"The FIA has decided to ban all radio transmissions at future grands prix deemed to help the driver with his on-track performance.

Messages from drivers asking for advice on driving style, or from the teams informing their drivers on how and where to make gains during a qualifying session or race, have become increasingly commonplace.

But motorsport’s world governing body is now strictly to enforce one of the sporting regulations that states: “The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.”

A directive from the FIA race director Charlie Whiting has been issued to all the teams confirming the clampdown.

The directive states: “In order to ensure the requirements of Article 20.1 of the F1 sporting regulations are respected at all times, the FIA intends to rigorously enforce this regulation with immediate effect.
"


Does this apply to reducing fuel use?

 

"Fernando is... Er, no, sorry, I'm not allowed to tell you"

 

yeah, probably needed it's own thread. Personally I'm all for it, I think safety messages and pit stopping is all that should be allowed, and the teams given set phrases they are allowed to use so that no extraneous information relating to performance is allowed.
although I wouldn't put it past them to try interesting enunciations:

"Lewis, do you waaaaaaaant to pit first or second?"
set engine mode to 5
"seeeeeeeeecond please"
I've got understeer
"oooookay"
more forward brake bias

 

We all know which drivers are going to be affected. HAM/RAI/VET...

 

I think the biggest problem is just going to be how it's enforced. I mean, just think:

1) "You are losing two tenths in the middle sector"
2) "You are losing two tenths in turn 5"
3) "Brake bias forward before turn 5"

Which of those do you ban? All of them? None of them? Even leaving aside the inevitability of cryptic messages, it's really unclear how this is going to be run. Especially with the fuel regulations and all the different engine modes - I don't think even the most optimistic FIA man can expect one of the drivers to do complex mathematics in their heads whilst hurtling round the track at 200mph.

I will concede that the intention is good though, another effort to ban unnecessary driver assistance.

 

The FIA are certainly good at surprising me. I always think "That idea is way too stupid to ever actually happen" and lo and behold...

If they didn't want drivers to have to be coached they shouldn't have created regulations in which fuel use and tyre wear is so important (are they allowed to still discuss strategy?). This will probably only force drivers to be more conservative if they dont know how hard they can push.

 

what do they need to tell them that isn't performance related? there isn't much outside of pitting for tyres or retiring the car and those that are safety related, which would either be stop the race, safety car or yellow flags and info where the debris lies. All of these could very easily be standardised by the FIA

if you use too much fuel, tough ****, if you wear out your tyres, tough ****. Tyre wear and fuel usage has always been a big factor in F1, drivers had to manage their own races for the most part, playing with boosts, brake balances whilst changing gears with levers and they managed it.

 

Jonathan Noble at Autosport has written an analysis of the changes. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115812

(Please support the site by clicking the link to read the full article)

Maybe there would be less popularity problems if you would stop going on about there being a popularity problem.

 

I don't think it's so much of a big deal. It's not going to effect them relaying strategy or fuel issues, but it will leave the racing in the hands of the driver. Exactly where it should be.

 

What about pit board messages?

 

Aren't you forgetting the man who needs driving advice? Mr Rosberg?

 

Kimi "leave me alone" Raikkonen is probably chuffed to bits.

 

Think this is great news.

It puts a lot more emphasis on the driver, their feel, their control and ultimately their decision making - just how it should be.

I imagine there will end up being caveats such as "unless there is imminent risk to danger" or something similar.

Think this will hinder Rosberg and benefit Kimi who doesn't want to hear, and Lewis who just ignores anyway

 

They can still pass info such as gaps, fuel use, pit strategy and all that, just not be coaching from the sidelines as far as I'm aware. Which is fair enough.

 

Actually a good move from the FIA.

Now if we can just knock on the door and ask GoodYear for some race-worthy tyres we might get both racing and the skill of looking after tyres all as one!

Something had to be done to put the driver back in Drivers Championship, and hopefully this is step one of many.

 

#F1 Not allowed anymore: Info about tyres/brake condition, fuel consumption, engine maps, ERS mode, fuel mix, diff settings. #NewRadioRules

#F1 Also not allowed: formation lap instructions to prepare race start - burnouts, gearbox sync, bite point, brake/tyre temps

#F1 Still allowed are informations & instructions regarding traffic, pit stop timing and team order.

I feel a bit better about this than I did initially. I think the main reason I was against it is because it was blamed on me ("the fans") and because it took place mid-season, which is still a concern.

However, some of those bans are also concerning. Tyre condition? Surely the teams have a right to tell the drivers about that, that comes under "strategy" doesn't it?

 

so what will the penalty of such a crime be?

 

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/09/11/f1-teams-react-to-fia-radio-ruling/

 

Lashings.

 

I figured they'd be able to inform a driver that they have an issue with fuel and need to ease off to see the end of the race, just not where and how to save fuel.