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[killem2]

But if the sport over all is safter, why not bring back the aggressive driving? Shouldn't it be the racers choice to drive aggressive or not?

[bigpat]

Although the cars are safer, they are also a lot quicker, which means bigger accidents.....

[killem2]

True, any reason they can't create cockpits? With canopy.

[bigpat]

Cockpits are forbidden in the rules.... Anyhow they won't make them much safer. It's normally the g forces from the sudden impact that does all the damage to the human body. Of course I understand with a cockpit, Massa's accident in '09 would've been a non-event too.....
Imagine if you were trapped in a cockpit if the car was upside down on fire? Cockpits make it harder to extricate a driver in a serious accident as well. The only way to open them would be to tilt upwards, so they would be trapped if the car was inverted.

Granted, sportscars (Le Mans cars) have cockpits, but they are much bigger in size, and have doors, which can still be opened ( or ripped off) if the car is upside down.

I believe there is nothing wrong with the rules that govern overtaking, or else you'll see people weaving all over the track blocking, which lead eventually lead to contact at full speed, and we'll have really big accidents, and undoubtedly a fatality, either a driver, or a spectator.

If you have ever driven a race car, and have been constantly blocked, you would know how absolutely infuriating it is. There is no argument for "that is part of th e skill of racing", as even a HRT car could constantly block a Red Bull if there were slack racing rules to adhere to. In the end, as the second car, either you take a dive down the inside, which often leads to contact (and $$$$) and no one is the winner. Or you punt the person in front off. Neither of which is what motor racing is about.

The strict definitions that are present are needed as normally if if you give a driver an inch, they'll take a mile, so to speak......

[killem2]

Why not some liberty in the cockpit, a bit more room, and add air bags? Sounds strange I know, but honestly if they gave the drives more room in there and put some protections liek that around, wouldn't it work? I guess I just want to see some real fighting for positions, even if it is as minor as jensen/hamiliton at turkey 2010 towards the end there.

[bigpat]

McLaren did rig tests to incorporate airbags after Hakkinen's accident in 1995. All Mercedes Le Mans sportscars, and DTM cars have them installed.

For Formula 1 use, I believe their was problems of the high speed vibrations etc, that couldn't guarantee their reliable deployment.

Second point was that they wouldn't be able to incorporate all the dials and switches onto the steering wheels. I think to confines of F1 cars don't provide enough room for an airbag to deploy properly, and airbags can't be physically deployed fast enough at 200 km/h plus speeds the cars do.

I think the point is missed is that the rules of overtaking are there to stop reckless / dangerous driving. It is a separate issue to car safety. If the Movable Rear Wing works as it should, the closing speed of the cars will be huge, even more reason to limit dangerous driving. I believe in the last few seasons the drivershave become more aggressive anyway.

My opinion is that aero sensitive cars always make passing harder. Look how good Super Touring cars were before they allowed wings and splitters....

Unfortunately if you want to see constant lead changes we have to watch Formula Fords, or Moto GP....

[Mickle]

I say for the 600th major rule change this decade make F1 like Mario Kart... Obviously you got KERS for overtaking but give it another little button next to it that knocks 2000rpm off the car directly in front, and get an extra shot everytime you go through the pits. Yeah obviously it's never gonna happen but if you looking to improve the racing...