Johnny's Sunday F1 comment/rant.....

If anyone watched the German GP then you will no doubt have seen Webber's wheel take off due to it being not secured properly and the mechanics imploring him not to leave the pit. It hit a cameraman and broke ribs and a shoulder. Could easily have killed him. And others as well.

The penalty? A 30k Euro fine. Derisory: like fining thee and me a quid. They'll spend more than that on tea bags and biscuits. And Vettel ego polish.

If an incident like that: injury caused due to negligence, had happened in my power plant then someone would be in Crown Court on Monday: " causing injury to person or persons due to omission of correct and professional action"

A very serious point made John

however i do feel you are over valuing you Fine of £1.00 compared to your earnings lol

Motor racing is dangerous and one assumes due care and attention.
But. Why don't the all wear hi-viz in the pit lane?
At Le Mans everybody in the pit lane has to wear a helmet including photographers.
Interesting point also for Le Mans only 2 mechanics allowed to work on the car at any one time, so what if it takes 2 mins to change tyres , its the same for everybody.
LOTS could be done to reduce the risk but it reduces the "spectacle".

I agree that the pit lane is a dangerous place. I find it strange that the pit crews wear all sorts of safety clothing/ equipment and it is anomalous that cameramen seem to wander about with no protective equipment.
In Sunday's case no clothing/equipment would have prevented the injury. It was pure luck that the guy wasn't struck on the head or knocked into the path of another car.

Perhaps the real answer is to remove the risk.

An obligatory minimum pit stop time of 15 seconds would remove the need to rush the wheel changes and would allow sufficient time for safe refueling too. This would also mean that racing was confined to the track, and that drivers and cars would decide the outcome, not some poor guy changing a wheel.

I am not sure that a hi viz jacket would have deflected the wheel by much.

Don't know. Our high vis vests are quite thick.

Dave Baird wrote: I am not sure that a hi viz jacket would have deflected the wheel by much.

My point was that the rules/regulation/best practice that applies in our workplaces doesn't seem to apply in an F1 pit lane. Why not?

Marmite - probably because F1 is a law unto itself, and money talks. And there is lots of money sloshing around in F1. FWIW, my comment was only meant as a throwaway line. I could not agree more with the sentiments expressed here. I was an F1 fan for years, and Ian Scheckter (brother of Jodie) was the first man ever to take me out for a driving lesson in a racing Renault Gordini. But now - I prefer BTCC any day of the week. :drive:

I made this point in my original post: 'civilians' aren't allowed to wander at will around my power plant or any other heavy industrial process for that matter. A cameraman is focused (sorry) on his task and not spatially aware of all his surroundings. The pit crews have to wear helmets etc: others don't for some reason.
Yes we want pit action on film: there must be a safer way of capturing it?

Half of me wants fixed duration pitstops as per suggested: the other half enjoys the physical drama of high speed tyre changes.

On another note: who believes that Webber will yield to another close overtaking move from Sebtwattien Wankel? Heavy contact will happen... :yesnod: and Johnny will cheer. A lot. I absolutely hate and detest the little finger-waving a$$-wipe. In 1939 he'd have been a leader in the Hitler Youth. Probably.

I also want to punch Christian Horner in the face. Hard. Twice. In case the first didn't hurt enough. Just because hes Christian Horner really. Twee little ponce. He has a smug and patronising face specifically designed to accept a high velocity clenched fist to be honest.


Back to anger management class i guess...... coat: but I'm passionate about the sport: have been for 40 years and more.

I would rather see passing on the track than in the pits.....
If I wanted to watch blokes change tyres, I'd go down to the local Beaurepaires tyre shop! :nonod:

If any of you think John is hard on Sebastien Spittle, you ought to hear my octogenarian Mum go crook about him! :rant: She takes NO PRISONERS! :lol:

Good to see The F1 management reacting with their usual sense.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23269399

Don't solve the problem of wheels flying off, just reduce the targets.
Idiots!

Wheels coming off cars are potential killers and this does not address the problem.

The wheels are tethered via the suspension to prevent them flying off in a crash: mostly effective.

As regards the latest ( and similar episodes in the past) where the wheel has not been correctly fitted before departure then I'd suggest black flagging the team for the race: both cars. Win and second place points deducted regardless of race position. 100k Euro fine. Both cars banned from next race.

That would focus attention on fastening the wheels on properly in future. :broon: