FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[scotty]

With the first lap crashes over the weekend, it does beg the question of whether teams should be allowed change drivers mid-season. Especially putting a completely inexperienced driver in a race seat. Obviously there are exceptions, injuries to drivers requiring an enforced driver change is fine but teams should still have to use a registered reserve driver. If nothing else, having rookie drivers on the grid is a big safety issue as in the case of Grosjean and Alguersuari have never driven an F1 car before first practice. Would the first lap incidents have happened if more experienced drivers were in control of those cars that took out the current world champion and world championship leader! I believe that teams should only be allowed to change drivers in the closed season unless injury forces a driver change!

Don't you think Piquet alone was a bigger safety issue than the collective inexperience of the new guys?

It's not like these guys haven't raced very quick cars previously, and people have to start somewhere to gain F1 race experience. Would the situation really be any different with new guys starting their first F1 race at the start of the season?

Accidents will happen that involve the top guys, look at Canada and Japan last year! It's all part of the drama and i love it.

[myownalias]

It's not like these guys haven't raced very quick cars previously, and people have to start somewhere to gain F1 race experience. Would the situation really be any different with new guys starting their first F1 race at the start of the season?

There's quick cars and then there are F1 cars, everything is significantly upgraded from F2 cars. At least new drivers who start at the beginning of the season would have had track time in a F1 car during testing with other cars on the track at the same time, something that the likes of Grosjean and Jaime Alguersuari didn't have the luxury of.

Accidents will happen that involve the top guys, look at Canada and Japan last year! It's all part of the drama and i love it.

Accidents will happen no matter how experienced the driver is; but accident's are more likely to happen with a complete rookie in control!

[scotty]

We both know that driving around with other cars present is a completely different kettle of fish to racing against them, and i do agree that in theory new guys can be more prone to mistakes, but i honestly think you are overreacting here.

[myownalias]

I am not overreacting, it's a discussion, I have my opinion and I wanted other peoples opinions I guess I see it like someone passing their driving test in a 1.6 Corsa then getting into a 600bhp McMerc SLR, it's asking for trouble. Some people will be absolutely fine by most will end up killing someone or themselves.

I believe that a driver should have to complete X amount of hours in an F1 car before being allowed to drive in a race for safety reasons!

[Denthúl]

I am not overreacting, it's a discussion, I have my opinion and I wanted other peoples opinions I guess I see it like someone passing their driving test in a 1.6 Corsa then getting into a 600bhp McMerc SLR, it's asking for trouble. Some people will be absolutely fine by most will end up killing someone or themselves.

Totally different. Most road drivers aren't schooled in the art of car control at high speeds, whereas race drivers are.

[myownalias]

I am not overreacting, it's a discussion, I have my opinion and I wanted other peoples opinions I guess I see it like someone passing their driving test in a 1.6 Corsa then getting into a 600bhp McMerc SLR, it's asking for trouble. Some people will be absolutely fine by most will end up killing someone or themselves.

Totally different. Most road drivers aren't schooled in the art of car control at high speeds, whereas race drivers are.

My analogy may be extreme but it''s true. A F1 car is unlike any other race car in the world, it's acceleration, brakes and cornering forces are unlike any other formula.

Drivers should have to complete a mandatory 500 hours (for example) in a F1 car before being let loose on the track. Right now that means that it will have to be an experienced F1 driver (because of the in-testing ban) or a new driver given the opportunity to drive that many hours in testing pre-season.

[scotty]

I am not overreacting, it's a discussion, I have my opinion and I wanted other peoples opinions

Sorry if that came off as harsh, wasn't sure how else to put it though. Hopefully we can agree to disagree.

[Denthúl]

I am not overreacting, it's a discussion, I have my opinion and I wanted other peoples opinions I guess I see it like someone passing their driving test in a 1.6 Corsa then getting into a 600bhp McMerc SLR, it's asking for trouble. Some people will be absolutely fine by most will end up killing someone or themselves.

Totally different. Most road drivers aren't schooled in the art of car control at high speeds, whereas race drivers are.

My analogy may be extreme but it''s true. A F1 car is unlike any other race car in the world, it's acceleration, brakes and cornering forces are unlike any other formula.

Drivers should have to complete a mandatory 500 hours (for example) in a F1 car before being let loose on the track. Right now that means that it will have to be an experienced F1 driver (because of the in-testing ban) or a new driver given the opportunity to drive that many hours in testing pre-season.

That's ridiculous. Aside from Spa, Alguersuari has been very mature in grands prix. His debut proved that the testing isn't necessary, as long as you're actively racing. The guy made a step up from F3 to F1. A lot of drivers used to do that, Barrichello for example.

[myownalias]

I am not overreacting, it's a discussion, I have my opinion and I wanted other peoples opinions

Sorry if that came off as harsh, wasn't sure how else to put it though. Hopefully we can agree to disagree.

Always, if everyone thought the same, this would be a boring forum... the differences of opinion is what makes it interesting if we can keep it civil

[myownalias]

That's ridiculous. Aside from Spa, Alguersuari has been very mature in grands prix. His debut proved that the testing isn't necessary, as long as you're actively racing. The guy made a step up from F3 to F1. A lot of drivers used to do that, Barrichello for example.

It's a different kettle of fish these days, Barrichello joined F1 in a time when widespread almost unlimited testing existed. I respectfully disagree that testing isn't necessary, a driver needs experience in any Formula before being allowed to go racing, instead of saying here's a 800bhp F1, try not to kill yourself or someone else!!!

[Denthúl]

That's ridiculous. Aside from Spa, Alguersuari has been very mature in grands prix. His debut proved that the testing isn't necessary, as long as you're actively racing. The guy made a step up from F3 to F1. A lot of drivers used to do that, Barrichello for example.

It's a different kettle of fish these days, Barrichello joined F1 in a time when widespread almost unlimited testing existed. I respectfully disagree that testing isn't necessary, a driver needs experience in any Formula before being allowed to go racing, instead of saying here's a 800bhp F1, try not to kill yourself or someone else!!!

At the end of the day, if someone's good enough, they're good enough. Alguersuari has already shown that...

[headless]

I vote put new drivers in a 3rd car and let it be done that way

Instead of using up the replaced drivers engines.

[darwin dali]

What are the requirements for a super license? Don't you have to have some number of kilometers or hours behind the wheel of an F1 car to get the license?

[darwin dali]

Oops, just found this:
These requirements state that the driver must be either the reigning champion in a lower category of motor sport, for example Formula 3 (British, Italian or Japanese championship, or Euroseries) or GP2 Series (formerly known as Formula 3000), or must have consistently finished well in these categories. For example, a driver finishing in the first three positions five times within the last two years in GP2 will be eligible for a Super Licence.


I guess you have to have some experience to KEEP the license (as in the case of MS recently).

[JamesD89]

What are the requirements for a super license? Don't you have to have some number of kilometers or hours behind the wheel of an F1 car to get the license?

These requirements state that the driver must be either the reigning champion in a lower category of motor sport, for example Formula 3 (British, Italian or Japanese championship, or Euroseries) or GP2 Series (formerly known as Formula 3000), or must have consistently finished well in these categories. For example, a driver finishing in the first three positions five times within the last two years in GP2 will be eligible for a Super Licence.

Appendix L also allows the FIA to award a Super Licence to a driver who does not meet the normal criteria if a vote reveals unanimous agreement by the members, and provided that the driver has completed 300 kilometres of testing at racing speeds in a current car.