Upcoming Rule-change in Formula 1

Kalina

At the Malaysian Grand Prix a week and a half ago we saw Juan Pabo Montoya receive a drive-through penalty for apparently causing an avoidable accident with Michael Schumacher. I think it was an unfair penalty and could have cost JPM his first win of the season.:mad:
Rumour has it that new rules (which are to be enforced from the Brazilian Grand Prix onwards) state that any driver who is seen to cause an avoidable collision with another driver during a race will be penalised in the following race by starting TEN places back from their qualifying position.
Some driver's, namely Eddie Irvine, have already said this will be a disaster for the sport. Poor Eddie is bravely facing up to the reality that his R3 can't possibly start 10 places back from it's best qualifying, because it's usually at the back of the field anyway.
Bring back Bobbie Rahal!!
So, has anyone else heard about this rule change and do you think it will benefit the sport of Formula 1?

chernobyl

The FIA has not got a fricken clue, just forget it...they will eventually get dumped.

Robbo

Kalina, I'd imagine that this poll is not about the proposed rule changes about avoidable collisions, rather the proposed 10 place penalty for using a second engine on a race weekend.

GreenHell

Drive through rule should be there for less serious happenings in F1, not all incidents should get 10 secound stop go, that can ruin a race, but a drive through in just right.

The engine rule is fine aswell, if anything it will allow the smaller teams to put more money into development so, well I have no problem with it.

Only thing I have a problem with in F1 at the moment is automatic gears, really takes alot of the drivers skill out of the sport.

jonno

Is this poll regarding the new drive-through penalty or the one-driver, one-engine rule due to be brought out in 2004?

I'd be for the drive-through penalty because the stop-go penalty is too harsh for some incidents, so it's a good compromise.
I'd also be for the new one-driver, one-engine rule. Promises to make it more competitive, and force the teams to get their act together.

Robbo

The drive through penalty has been in place for years, it's just never been used prior to the last GP.

Kalina

Apparently the 10 place penalty will be incurred from next weekend in Brazil for a driver causing an avoidable collision and as Robbo correctly pointed out all the teams are going to be restricted to only one race engine per weekend, starting from 2004. (Sorry, I forgot to add that when I started this thread!!! :rolleyes: )
I think that a 10 place penalty is far too severe a punishment for causing an avoidable race incident. A 10 second stop-go would suffice in that situation. And as for threatening this same penalty to any team who uses more than one engine per race weekend, it's definitely too severe. Granted, it will cut costs and for those teams who are on a miniscule annual budget (Minardi for example) this might be a godsend but I can't see it helping the sport as a whole.

Robbo

There is no 10 place penalty in operation this weekend in Brazil. I should know, my dad's the FIA steward there.

GreenHell

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/03/s8950.html


The rule could be used at the brazilian gp, if its deemed that the driver deserves it.

NeRb666

uh couldn't most collisions be deemed to be avoidable?

I say stop messing around with all these rules and bring back proper slicks.

Brautigan

... and bring back the spirit of James Hunt while they're at it, and those F1 cars that had 6 wheels. Not they were nuts...

Kalina

Apparently the new rule about losing 10 places for causing an avoidable collision WAS enforced at the Brazilian Grand Prix the weekend before last. Montoya was lucky he wasn't the first to be penalised after he clashed again with Schumacher. Unfortunately, he came out the worst!:mad: