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[headless]

I think that instead of miles of run off areas in F1 it should all be gravel traps. This way it punishes peoples mistakes. So many times this season the top 4 drivers have got away with driving whereas if it was gravel traps they wouldn't.
Views?

[Ruby]

It'd be interesting for sure.....but a little controversial in that if you get shunted off by somebody else then it would be a little harsh! At least with tarmac you have a chance of recovery.... Plus, you'd have to way up how much damage gravel does to F1 cars - would it be worth doing? Anyone with more technical knowledge have any ideas?

[Selcouth_Feline]

Would grass be a better compromise? Personally, I think sometimes the problem with tarmac run-off areas is that sometimes, the drivers don't lose much time even when they go off-track. I think grass would probably make them lose a little more time than tarmac without being as severe as gravel?

[Ruby]

Good point - I agree about the tarmac thing not really doing any detriment to lap times. Yes maybe gravel is maybe too harsh, especially in places where speed is high.

[Stephen]

Gravel has been replaced by tarmac due to safety. Often when cars found their way off the racetrack, the drivers would find themselves launched across the gravel, unable to steer and making braking ineffective. In addition, there was also the tangible chance that cars could be flipped over in such material. As we saw in Japan and China, tarmac allows the driver to remain in control of their car, drive away from dangerous positions without the need for cranes etc to enter the circuit.

Here are several incidents made worse by the use of gravel:
Wurz, Canada 1998: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlY2FT5lO_E
Schumacher, Silverstone 1999: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z9S07V463g
Burti, Spa 2001: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulLfbJptE14
Hamilton, Nurburgring 2007: Link

[madbrad]

If not for gravel, MS would have the 97 title LOL

IIRC they reduced the gravel areas and increased the tarmac runoff ares because viewership declines in proportion to the number of remaining cars.. You know, improve the spectacle and all that? not to mention Bernie's wallet.

Yes Gravel can on occasion be dangerous in the way you describe, but I think more times than that it's safer than tarmac. Senna got tarmac. Gravel would have saved him.

[Ruby]

Senna got tarmac. Gravel would have saved him.

Would it though? I mean, the gap between the wall and the track is pretty small anyway (well dunno if it still is they've changed it haven't they?) so would the impact have been any less? Please explain as I'm interested

[Stephen]

Senna was killed by a pushrod going through his helmet, can't help but think that neither gravel or tarmac would have saved him tbh.

[stonemonkey]

I agree with the first post about the tarmac runoff areas but as mentioned in another, the cars can be launched into the air or can dig in and get flipped by the gravel. I'd prefer to see more grass strips between the track and tarmac runoff areas or something like that so they are hindered in some way by mistakes but not taken out of the race.

[7UpJordan]

Senna was killed by a pushrod going through his helmet, can't help but think that neither gravel or tarmac would have saved him tbh.

A tyre barrier would have saved Senna's life, they couldn't move the wall further back because not too far behind it is a river.

[darwin dali]

Gravel should be banned - it's bad in many ways: too many get beached, then safety car is needed to get them out; dangerous as explained above; not the best way to stop a car in most instances - better have control and brakes working on tarmac; damage to cars from gravel with whatever implications; gravel gets kicked onto race track and may interfere with somebody else's race...

[madbrad]

I spoke too soon. I can't say gravel would have saved him. I think his speed would have been reduced further, but also the whole dynamics of the impact would be different and then that wishbone would have gone in some other direction. But that was all so random, and if it were gravel and he got speared by the wishbone, then we'd be sitting here wishing it were tarmac so he'd hit at a different angle. Good point that a tire wall would have prevented it. I agree with that.
I still think that gravel slows you the safest way more times than not, although there are times when it makes things worse. Tarmac would be the best if the runoffs were several hundred feet at every corner, so you have enough space to recover before hitting a wall. IN a wet race, you won't be able to slow down on a tarmac runoff.
I still say Bernie's wallet asked him to keep more guys in the races, hence the increased tarmac.
I don't care if someone gets beached and I don't care if it causes a safety car. Those aren't deterrents for me to use gravel.

[Ruby]

I don't care if someone gets beached and I don't care if it causes a safety car. Those aren't deterrents for me to use gravel.

I agree, it's all part of it for me. As long as it's not technically more dangerous.

[darwin dali]

Yeah. why not have sand bunkers, bushes, trees and ponds as well and we'll stoop to the level of that rather moronic game for beer-bellied middle-aged rich f.ucks called golf.

[McLaren Fan]

Senna was killed by a pushrod going through his helmet, can't help but think that neither gravel or tarmac would have saved him tbh.

If gravel did end up saving him, it would only have been by accident, as the rod may have been flung at a different angle due to the difference in speed. His head also smacked off the car (in the area of the headrest) due to the massive deceleration which also inflicted serious injuries. As said, cars often gilde over the gravel, rather than the car digging in, so I still think Senna would have hit the wall in at a similar speed. Gravel, HANS etc. would have made little difference.

Senna was killed by a pushrod going through his helmet, can't help but think that neither gravel or tarmac would have saved him tbh.

A tyre barrier would have saved Senna's life, they couldn't move the wall further back because not too far behind it is a river.

I agree. The tragic thing is Senna was at the track only a few months before and didn't think of this, and that they are very cheap and easy to get hold off.

Gravel should be banned - it's bad in many ways: too many get beached, then safety car is needed to get them out; dangerous as explained above; not the best way to stop a car in most instances - better have control and brakes working on tarmac; damage to cars from gravel with whatever implications; gravel gets kicked onto race track and may interfere with somebody else's race...

I agree, again. It's use should be kept to a minimum.

Finally, although I agree that gravel is not the way to go, I would like to see more of a penalty for going off the track.