Charlie Whiting made mistake IMO Options

[Tomecek]

According to new rules he can immediately start another formation lap if any problem occurs, but what was Charlie Whiting thinking to start the race and then release safety car after that?

[se7en_24]

If you ask me the marshalls made the mistake by not pushing Sato to the side of the track in order to clear it.

[Ricardo F1]

They couldn't get the car into neutral.

Meanwhile WTF Charlie Whiting thought he was doing rampaging down to the BAR pit, which clearly must have led to the SC being out a lap more than it should have been, is beyond me. Get a f****ing grip Charlie.

[peroa]

Charlie has failed as he did in Canada with his SC paranoia.

[angst]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
They couldn't get the car into neutral.

Meanwhile WTF Charlie Whiting thought he was doing rampaging down to the BAR pit, which clearly must have led to the SC being out a lap more than it should have been, is beyond me. Get a f****ing grip Charlie.

Quite. It seems Charlie Whiting is applying too much of his time and effort searching for, and running errands for, MM and his political agendas. WTF was he doing rampaging down to the BAR pit?

[Umpire]

Maybe he wanted to help BAR..lol.

It was right not to start another formation lap, but why the SC was out since they had a whole lap to get Sato to the pitlane (and in fact they did), is beyond me..

My only reasonable guess is the order for the SC to come out came too late to be recalled.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Welcome to the experts of Readers Comments.

[Pinguin]

This was a clear demonstration of Charlie getting it wrong! Then again -like any otter human- he is prone to mistakes. How the safety car could be justified is beyond me - and my granny!

[Dragonfly]

I'm not gona make strong conclusions because I know only what I saw, but the SC seems to me entirely unnecessary. They could make another formation lap (as usually). Maybe it's some misunderstanding.

[mclarenroxxors]

canada
indy
great britain

charlie

[Lada Lover]

He did the right thing. Sato is on the track with the field of cars coming up fast. You can't just wave a yellow with a car and marshalls on the track. JVil proved today that F1 drivers don't always see clearly and a yellow means don't pass and they barely slow down. It was a timing issue and it all went wrong.
I'm glad he didn't red flag the race or JPM's fantastic start would be for naught.

[mclarenroxxors]

Originally posted by Lada Lover
He did the right thing. Sato is on the track with the field of cars coming up fast. You can't just wave a yellow with a car and marshalls on the track. JVil proved today that F1 drivers don't always see clearly and a yellow means don't pass and they barely slow down. It was a timing issue and it all went wrong.
I'm glad he didn't red flag the race or JPM's fantastic start would be for naught.

Starting a race with a car stalled in the last turn was just bloody intelligent

[Ross Stonefeld]

If he had aborted the start you would have complained that there was no need to since he had roughly 100 seconds to get the car cleared off before the field came by at the end of the opening lap.

[Dudley]

Originally posted by mclarenroxxors
canada
indy
great britain

charlie

What safety car at Indy?

[Clatter]

Very easy to sit watching on telly with the benefit of replays etc.

I was at the race and it was a tight call, he has seconds to make the decision in and has to ere on the side of caution. In the circumstances he made the right decision.

[Mr M0by]

Originally posted by Dudley


What safety car at Indy?

Oh no, now you've gone and done it.... he was referring to 'no chicane' i imagine....

Must we still have this conversation.

[Tomecek]

Originally posted by Lada Lover
I'm glad he didn't red flag the race or JPM's fantastic start would be for naught.

There was no reason to red flag the race, but to start the race just for release the safety car then is stupid. Field was not ready for start because there was one car stack on it, he should start another formation lap.

[Tomecek]

Originally posted by Clatter
Very easy to sit watching on telly with the benefit of replays etc.

I was at the race and it was a tight call, he has seconds to make the decision in and has to ere on the side of caution. In the circumstances he made the right decision.

He has the experience, but probably he is maybe too old...

[LuckyStrike1]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Welcome to the experts of Readers Comments.

Thank you, I'm happy to be here.

I think it's all Max Mosleys fault, is that okay?

[Paco]

He did the right thing. Simple as that.

At the onset of the season, the news rules regarding the start of Grand Prix were clearly laid out to avoid have a 15-min restart procedure and having the race commence as quickly as possible.

Running the race with another formation lap was total unnecessary for what transpired today.

He did the right thing to err on the side of caution. You never see drivers lift today in a waved yellow zone.

So he brought out the safety.. RIGHT CALL at the moment he sent it out.

It may have an extra lap out but who cares, no one got injured. It didn't lead to anyone having off because of cold tires etc and it bunched up the field a tiny bit which actually probably help Kimi a bit.

People please... get a grip. F1 has enough going on with the GPWC, Qualifying and Improving passing... is this really a big issue????

If there is anything to be disappointed about it would be:

Chicane Trulli
NO PASSING
Engine Penalty effecting a drivers' position (personally, I think the constructors points for that car should be set to 0 but the driver not incur a penality).

yadda yadda

Paco

[mclarenroxxors]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
If he had aborted the start you would have complained that there was no need to since he had roughly 100 seconds to get the car cleared off before the field came by at the end of the opening lap.

How about waiting until track was clear of Satos car and if too much time has passed run another formation lap?

That you people actually defend him is absolutely hilarious. Sending the cars off not knowing what will happen to a car standing still on track instead of waiting a few seconds to see what will happen to the car

[Clatter]

Why do you think running a second formation lap was any better? Either way we would have lost a race lap.

[mclarenroxxors]

Originally posted by Clatter
Why do you think running a second formation lap was any better? Either way we would have lost a race lap.

I don't care about losing a race lap. What I am concerned about is how you can send off the cars with such a safety hazard on track!

[Paco]

Safety Hazard???

There are far worse incidents that occur during a GP than the sitting Sato incident in which the track marshals were already moving the vehicle out of the way with over a minute to spare right new the pit wall/entrance.

These are professional racing drivers with radio telecommunication available in their helmet. EVERYONE one of the drivers were aware of the incident long before they arrived at that corner!

Having the cars idol there for another minute could have lead to a much more serious incident of a car overheating and not getting off the grid and getting rammed into!

Once the SC was deployed, everyone knew to go slowly and hold position. It's not as if Sato was injured and needed the medic's to get there.

Paco

[Option1]

Look! It's obvious! It was a conspiracy between Max, the FIA, Ferrari, Michael Schumacher, Bridgestone, Marlboro, Coke, Budweiser, Bernie, Bernie's Auntie Norma, the Secret Seven, the Famous Five, the Fabulous Baker Boys and all. It always is, isn't it? Although personally, I blame Auntie Norma.

There were two choices - start with another formation lap or start and send out the SC. No big deal either way, but of course the ex-spurts here always know better.

Neil

[Ross Stonefeld]

Going the SC route gave them the chance that they'd get the car cleared before the end of the lap and there'd have been no interruption at all.

[mclarenroxxors]

What's the point of deploying a safety car if there is no safety hazard?

And "drivers knew to take it easy" - racing drivers are soo known to take it easy in hazardous situations. Think montoya in Canada, the guy who ran over a track worker in monaco earlier this year, alonso at brazil 2003 the list is endless. The racing drivers are not to be trusted in these situations.

Also take into account that the drivers would pass Takuma before reaching the safety car.

[Ricardo F1]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Welcome to the experts of Readers Comments.

You actually starting the FIA fanclub?

[George Bailey]

Originally posted by mclarenroxxors
I don't care about losing a race lap. What I am concerned about is how you can send off the cars with such a safety hazard on track!

You can't leave F1 cars sitting for a few minutes, the engines can't handle it.


So the choices were a 2nd formation lap, or the SC. Option one means a 2nd standing start, option two means a rolling start. Option 2 is safer. If safety is your big concern you should be happy with Charlie.

[Ricardo F1]

But why the rampage down to the BAR pits when his job was to get the race going? Not that it's a huge thing, but the safety car should stay out as short a time possible due to tyre pressures and for the race in general, the FIRST TIME the safety car came onto the straight Sato's BAR was in the pitlane. It should have been in that lap, but Charlie was farting around down in the pitlane.

[George Bailey]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
But why the rampage down to the BAR pits when his job was to get the race going? Not that it's a huge thing, but the safety car should stay out as short a time possible due to tyre pressures and for the race in general, the FIRST TIME the safety car came onto the straight Sato's BAR was in the pitlane. It should have been in that lap, but Charlie was farting around down in the pitlane.

I have no idea why Charlie took that little walk, it certainly didn't look professional. Has either CW or BAR commented on what was up?


But... I also don't know how much of a heads up they usually give the teams in terms of when the SC will be called in. As you say Sato had made the pits before the SC reached the front straight, but I don't know where Sato was at the point the 'SC IN' message is sent.

[Viktor]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
But why the rampage down to the BAR pits when his job was to get the race going? Not that it's a huge thing, but the safety car should stay out as short a time possible due to tyre pressures and for the race in general, the FIRST TIME the safety car came onto the straight Sato's BAR was in the pitlane. It should have been in that lap, but Charlie was farting around down in the pitlane.

As far as I know the safty car came out at the end of lap 1 and went in to the pits at the end of lap 2, where is this extra lap? Did I miss it on my TV? And on my TV he went past the BAR pits and did not stopp there. Also remember that Whiting relay on information from others, my guess at the time was that he was angry because he had not been told that the car was in a safe position when he sent out the SC.

/Viktor

[Viktor]

One more thing, is Charlie Whiting always in the "start box" (from where he starts the race) during the race? Cant the walk have been a walk to race control where he spends the rest of the race like every other race?

/Viktor

[Ross Stonefeld]

Please dont ruin their bonfire with facts

[Clatter]

Originally posted by Ricardo F1
But why the rampage down to the BAR pits when his job was to get the race going? Not that it's a huge thing, but the safety car should stay out as short a time possible due to tyre pressures and for the race in general, the FIRST TIME the safety car came onto the straight Sato's BAR was in the pitlane. It should have been in that lap, but Charlie was farting around down in the pitlane.

The reason given at the track over the PA was although the car was off the grid the barriers had not been closed.

[Nasty McBastard]

got it wrong my arse.

had they managed to get satos thing off the track 10 seconds faster there wouldnt of been a SC....wouldnt of been a need for a SC.

as for a new for a formation lap etc.... his car wasnt on the grid, and at the time they werent to know itd take so long to get the thing in to neutral.

if someones car rolls to a stop on the warmup lap and its 'behind' the grid, it shouldnt be a 'restart' situation.

[tombr]

and at the time they werent to know itd take so long to get the thing in to neutral.

I got the feeling that this was a big part of the confusion. It should have been pushed off and taken only seconds but, for some reason, the car wasn't cooperating. It just took too long and caught Charlie & others off guard.

[Drifter]

Given the marshals seemed to be having trouble moving the car I think the safety car was the only decision that could be made in the time He had to make it.

Besides, a restart behind the safety car was a better option than a standing restart on the grid. Less chance of more things going wrong.

[Svenko Wankerov]

Originally posted by mclarenroxxors
What's the point of deploying a safety car if there is no safety hazard?

It wasn't a safety hazard until they realized they were having trouble getting Sato's BAR in neutral. Once they did they let him go right after the safety car came out they pulled it back in after the 1 lap.

Sato's car was stuck well behind the grid. Even dan2k wouldn't be stupid enough to think the cars will go backwards at the start.

[mclarenroxxors]

Originally posted by Svenko Wankerov
It wasn't a safety hazard until they realized they were having trouble getting Sato's BAR in neutral. Once they did they let him go right after the safety car came out they pulled it back in after the 1 lap.

Sato's car was stuck well behind the grid. Even dan2k wouldn't be stupid enough to think the cars will go backwards at the start.

They cars would still have to pass sato before reaching the safety car.