F1 drivers are a bunch of pussies...

[Nortad]

A handful of drivers are worried about the increase in speed in the Silverstone circuit.

"A handful of leading Formula One drivers have called for safety to be improved at Silverstone in the wake of a sudden increase in corner speeds. Despite new rules reducing engine capacities from 3 litre V10 to 2.4 litre V8, corner speeds through Copse and Becketts have increased significantly.

Due to the lower top speeds of the V8 engines and the return to short-life, high-grip tyres, drivers are now able to keep their foot planted to the floor through the opening four corners at Silverstone before lifting slightly for turn five at Chapel and braking only slightly for turn seven at Stowe.

A lap of Silverstone is now taken at 70% full throttle compared to the 58% in the V10 era, but it is the corner speed increase of approximately 15kph through Copse and Becketts that has caused drivers to question the safety of the circuit in the these particular areas.

"We have a lot of high-speed corners at Silverstone, and even though this year's cars have less power, there is more grip thanks to the softer tyres," explains Fernando Alonso. " This is the biggest difference we have felt so far between the V8 and V10 engines because a lot of the first part of the lap is now nearly flat out.

"It makes the circuit tougher physically, and with so many high-speed corners it is difficult for the drivers to cope with," he added.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen agreed with Alonso's views: "We now spend over 70% of the lap at full throttle, and that's a big change compared to last year," he said. That means there are a lot of high speed corners taken either flat out, or at almost full throttle, which makes life tough."

The first concerns came to life during the three-day test in April that saw Toro Rosso's Vitantonio Liuzzi crash heavily at Becketts whilst travelling at 270kph (170mph). The Red Bull RB2 was destroyed in the accident but it highlighted the run-off dangers at that particular corner.

McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya also crashed at Becketts during testing, though less extensively than Liuzzi, and has immediately called on the BRDC to push back the run-off area at that particular corner.

"They shouldn't change the circuit, just the safety," he told Autosport. "At Becketts, when you go right, you're going head on towards a wall doing maybe 300 clicks (186mph) - I crashed there and the gravel doesn't do too much. There's not enough run-off area"

Ohhh... poor things, maybe they should go back home and play with their Barbie dools and leave driving to the ones who know...

[Blair_355]

lol i like your veiw on it.

Maybe they should slow the fuk down if they don't like going fast or go back to go kart racing.

Good read thanks Nortad

[Ford88]

I'm sorry but I would love to see you guys drive those I'd be scared too. They pull something like 4G's in the corners and now they are probably pulling more that would suck.

Oh yeah the F-1 guys are pretty damn strong too I'd like to see anyone of us drive em as well as they do

[Blair_355]

I don't doubt that they are 150% better drivers then me, but if they don't want to go that fast thrugh a corner then release the exelerator or hit the brakes.

[GTSAdam]

Sorry, they are pussies, compared to when Schumacher started driving and earlier. The cars are safer, handle better, yet in a lot of places are not that much faster than the days of Senna, Early Schumacher, Prost etc etc/ Never heard them complain

[drmchsraj]

^^ what he said. No one today has the charm and its always about the cars now. Just like in hollywood how Frankie was - now its all abt smoothness, richness or whatever as opposed to pure machismo and cool charm.

[SevPP]

Originally Posted by GTSAdam

Sorry, they are pussies, compared to when Schumacher started driving and earlier. The cars are safer, handle better, yet in a lot of places are not that much faster than the days of Senna, Early Schumacher, Prost etc etc/ Never heard them complain

Not a lot faster? I tend to disagree on that. Perhaps in a straight line there isn't the difference but cornering forces are massively higher than they used to be. And this is the problem. One tiny error and the car will fly off the track and hit whatever is in the way at huge speed ~180mph into something solid anyone? Since aero aids do sfa once you are anything but straight, slowing down is pretty hard. They didn't complain because straight line speed was high, cornering speed low (compared to now) and braking distances longer.

I also believe that in the past racers were willing to put more on the line than the current crop of drivers but times have changed. You can see that in anything you look at. Yes everything about modern competition is safer be it F1 or BMX racing but the limit of "grip" and "not grip" is slimmer than ever. To call them pussies is very poor imo.

[EVILZ33]

at this rate indy racing is gonna be more interesting by next year

[Nortad]

You guys are right. But lets put this into prespective:

Back in the 1950/60´s racing was a seriously dangerous business. Very few drivers went past their 40´s without any major injurie. And these guys weren´t any athelets, Fangio was fat, and he only started racing when he was 37 or 40 or something...

And in straight line performance was pretty much the same has today (no aerodinamics, cars were streamlined) and racing was done in public roads with treas, phone posts, wired fences right by the track, cars ran on speacially made fuels, had drum brakes, and ran crossply tyres (if you know what they are you know how they grip on corners...NOT) and they were made with weight saving on their minds, not safety.

F1 racing is TOO safe nowadays, G force is almost at jetfighter level, but race tracks today are true incubators.

Drivers back in the day, were seen as, and quite right, as heros, but can anyone label any driver from the last 10years as such?

[GTSAdam]

Wanna test the drivers? Make the German Grand Prix the FULL Nurburgring. That would sort the men from the boys. As far as I am concerned, it all wet to shit when Senna had his accident. Don't get me wrong, the guy was and still is a god, but, just because he and Ratzenberger died, the started putting chicanes in and taking the interest out of the Sport. Less passing sucks. Instead of making the cars run grooved tires, taking and adding wings here and there, just leave the circuits alone and/or put them back to how they were 20 years ago, albeit with a regularly maintained surface

[Nortad]

Your right, they fuçked up all the circuits, and even Monaco is gonna be altered! For me that almost a sin!

[SevPP]

Unfortunately if F1 was to go back to the 'ring it would ruin the track- much the same way that Bathurst has been ruined (but even more so), in that the character of the track would disappear with all the mods that f1 would require- ie smoothening etc. It won't happen (Thank God...in some ways)

IMO- grip levels- aero aids need to be reduced. I believe this would make for better racing. But in doing this, the most elite form of motorsport in the world is being brought down to possibly slower class than say Indycars or LMP cars. The rule makers do have a very tough job.

[GTSAdam]

lmao. I have no idea why you think that Bathurst has been ruined? It woulb be argueably the 2nd best circuit in the world after the 'ring. The only thing that has change there is the addition of the chase in the 80's. The rest of the treack is how it was 60 years ago, albeit a little smoother, wider and more barriers, and a much much better pit complex

[sil-40]

if you dont like it, im sure speed vision has some fantastic nascar for you to watch. i, for one, have the balls to say that i really dont know what is best for the sport of F1 and i dont think anyone here does. anyone have any experience outside of spectatorship? the drivers of F1 are true atheletes that have exercise regimine beyond what most are capable of. F1 is the pinnacle of automotive racing and technology and will continue to be so. as the sport makes changes, it will naturally evolve to fit the majority or the rules will change again.

as for the hostility nortad, while they are driving for a living (something im sure most of us would kill to do), you WILL be at home playing with your barbie dolls and *****ing on the internet.

[SevPP]

If you watch old videos from the 80's (even the 90's) Bathurst had more character. The bumps were part of the track imo. By removing the bumps and other little bits and pieces it has taken away from the character. Even the drivers have commented on this. It is still one of the greatest tracks in the world but was better with the bumps. Many of the improvement you mention were needed. The Chase was a worthwhile addition as were the new pits. Smoothening the track wasn't. I've driven on tracks before and after they have been modified (smoothened) and for me, the bumpier tracks were more challenging and rewarding to drive on.

Sil-40. While F1 is the pinnacle, rule changes could well turn it into something else- not the top class as I've mentioned. Doubtful it would go this way but you never know for certain. I certainly don't know which way the sport (should I say business?)should go either. Nor would I want to make that decision....