[Official] Chinese Grand Prix 2017 - Round 2 of 20 - Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[Born Racer]

It's likely to be two stops - supersoft, soft then soft stints, but the rain could put a spanner in the works. Ferrari have had more testing than the rest on the extreme wet.

If it does stay dry for the race, we should find out how possible it is to get a tow and overtake.

[F1Guy]

Lot's of action on track today!

[sizzle]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Lot's of action on track today!

One way to mix up the grid��

Every other category in the world except NASCAR race despite the weather and it isn't at the track. I know the safety angle but really, this is bullshit.

[F1Guy]

And now we have Porsche Supercup racing just minutes after F1 FP2 was deemed unsafe!

China and it's damn smog! Why bother going to this country that doesn't have that much of an F1 fan base in the first place!??

[mikuni]

Originally Posted by sizzle

this is bullshit.

I agree. What a shambles. They're trying to figure out what's wrong with F1. I have an idea - going to stupid places like China:
The only suitable hospital is 38km away
The roads are a shambles so ambulance isn't an option
The Chinese police won't do a police escort because they can't come to a "suitable arrangement"

I'm getting sick of this. Cutting Malaysia is a start, but that's only financial. At least they're adding France and Germany where people understand what Motorsport is and might actually support the event.

[F1Guy]

Great spellers too!

[F1Guy]

There's an expectation that the weather conditions will be the same for Sunday. Then what? No race??

[mikuni]

Good on Lewis (throwing some signed hats into the "crowd"). Best thing the boys done in ages.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by sizzle

Every other category in the world except NASCAR race despite the weather and it isn't at the track. I know the safety angle but really, this is bullshit.

...and if there was a serious incident requiring an airlift, but they couldn't do it because the helicopter couldn't land, what then?

I completely understand the frustration but a lot of the anger and recrimination over the Bianchi incident stemmed from not using the helicopter for precisely the reasons they stopped the sessions today.

Lose/lose on the part of the various officials there, then

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

There's an expectation that the weather conditions will be the same for Sunday. Then what? No race??

There's talk of holding the race on Saturday because of the weather.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128831

Otherwise, not one of my favourite races on the calendar and personally one that doesn't need to be on it. However, purely from a racing point of view, it will be interesting to see if Ferrari/Vettel can capitalise on their win at Melbourne.

[billy bleach]

So Hamilton is quoted as being worried about the wets. Didn't he miss testing them because he had a " bad back " or a bone in his leg or something whilst Vettel was pounding around on them..... oops

[Sodemo]

I'd bet my house on them NOT moving the race to Saturday. It won't happen.

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by Greem

...and if there was a serious incident requiring an airlift, but they couldn't do it because the helicopter couldn't land, what then?

The Porsche Supercup cars went out minutes after FP2 ended. If a Porsche driver was seriously hurt where a helicopter was required, what then?

The Porsche Supercup cars must be much safer if crashed at 250+ km/h than a F1 car I'm guessing.

[F1Guy]

Lewis Hamilton has suggested 3 practice sessions on Saturday, qualifying Sunday morning followed by the race on Sunday afternoon. I like this. Fans still get a full weekend's F1. And a win for F1 image and FOM.

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

There's talk of holding the race on Saturday because of the weather.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128831

Otherwise, not one of my favourite races on the calendar and personally one that doesn't need to be on it. However, purely from a racing point of view, it will be interesting to see if Ferrari/Vettel can capitalise on their win at Melbourne.

Not going to happen. No change to the timetable. Race will go ahead on Sunday.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

The Porsche Supercup cars went out minutes after FP2 ended. If a Porsche driver was seriously hurt where a helicopter was required, what then?

The Porsche Supercup cars must be much safer if crashed at 250+ km/h than a F1 car I'm guessing.

Maybe. Or maybe it's because it's written into the F1 rulebook, and not in the Supercup rulebook?

Damned if I can find it, although I do know that the medevac helicopter was made mandatory at F1 events in 1986.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Great spellers too!

That was hilarious. Right after that shot, those who were working on the Vettel banner were looking over the top and realized the problem and pulled up the extra "E". Then they cut to the Ferrari garage and showed Vettel in the car looking at his monitor. He clearly had a bit grin on his face under his balaclava. He then held up his fingers to make an "L" to indicate the missing letter.

Then a bit later they show fans in full driving suits and helmets dressed as the Stig, Alonso and Vettel. With another cut back to the garage with Alonso and Vettel grinning at what they see on the world feed. At least they are having fun while not on track!

Richard

[Greem]

Having spent a few minutes browsing the F1 SRs just now, Messrs Carey, Brawn, Whiting and co are going to have their work cut out making sweeping timetable changes...

31.1, 31.4, 32.1, 33.1, 35.3 all contain "no more" or "no less" time periods.

I know this is a force majeure moment but there'll be some lawyering going on behind the scenes right now to make sure unanimity happens!

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Greem

Having spent a few minutes browsing the F1 SRs just now, Messrs Carey, Brawn, Whiting and co are going to have their work cut out making sweeping timetable changes...

31.1, 31.4, 32.1, 33.1, 35.3 all contain "no more" or "no less" time periods.

I know this is a force majeure moment but there'll be some lawyering going on behind the scenes right now to make sure unanimity happens!

In the old days Bernie would have made them a suggestion they couldn't refuse....

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by Greem

Maybe. Or maybe it's because it's written into the F1 rulebook, and not in the Supercup rulebook?

Yes, I'm aware of what the rule book states. Does that make it right though? Is a Porsche Supercup drivers health/life not matter as much as an F1 driver?

[Greem]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Yes, I'm aware of what the rule book states. Does that make it right though? Is a Porsche Supercup drivers health/life not matter as much as an F1 driver?

That's not the point.

The point is that the F1 powers-that-be appear to be super sensitive to any perceived fault in the event of a serious incident (as they should be) and cannot be seen to be breaking their own rules because they'll potentially be taken to the cleaners if they do.

Perhaps the Supercup clerk of the course was happy with the situation for his/her drivers, where the F1 clerk was not? The decision rests with the clerk and/or race director, and they've stated their reasoning already.

Please understand: I'm not arguing with you, nor am I stating whether I think something is right or wrong. I'm trying to lay out, dispassionately, the reasons why Charlie & co most likely decided not to run today's sessions. The other series have their own decision making processes and their own rules.

[wnut]

Guess Michelin can build a wet weather tyre while we know Pirelli can't!

[skells22]

Stop blaming Pirelii for something that is out of their control FOG

[S griffin]

I hope something is sorted, worse thing would be if the race did not go ahead or went to half points

[chillibowl]

does anyone know what type of helicopter they use? is it provided by the track, hospital, or FOM?

im not knowledgeable about copters but it seems to me that a medical helicopter should be designed to operate in extreme weather...we have them here servicing rural communities and they go out in extreme wind conditions, blizzards, -40c all the time.

no doubt its dangerous but isnt this part of their function?

like the pace and medical safety cars, maybe a better helicopter with a dedicated crew is something FOM should think about bringing to all the races.

anyways, here is a cool poster of a dragon chasing a Ferrari.



https://twitter.com/scuderiaferrari/...92881640960000