Existing Users: Because of an update to the forum software you will need to reset your password. Please use the "Forgot?" link on the sign in form to do so. If that doesn't work, send me an email at feedback@forzaminardi.com and I'll sort you out!

Being lapped

How many seconds do you reckon we lose a race being lapped?

I reckon that wecan get lapped between 25 and 40 times a race.

Everytime a Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Red Bull, Sauber, Williams, Toyota or BAR gets within a couple of seconds from the ass end of one of our cars. We have three blue flages to slow down and pull over to let the 'faster' car through. (If they're so much faster, get rid of blue flags and let them pass us.) It just seems we get the first 15 laps or so to run at our own speed and then we are told to slow down every lap until the finish.

Just wondering whether it would be better running more pit stops and running lighter, quicker and avoiding being slowed down by faster drivers??????

Comments

  • I think that it is because rival teams, ie; Jordan, would be a quicker on a better pitstop strategy, when they also suffer the same 'being lapped' penalty.

    also, with respect to the minardi pit crew, more pitstops equals more chance of a stuffup.
  • There are two penalties when being lapped.

    1/ having to slow a little to allow cars past
    We probably don't have to slow down much (if at all) when a maclaren passes on a straight section of track. but may be off full throttle for a some time when closer rivals overtake.

    2/ having to pull to the dirty side of the track and losing grip until the tyre is clean again.

    This must get worse through the race as dust and marbles get thrown from the racing line. I would imagine that this must have a bad effect on the tyres :(

    The blue flag rule is bad for slower teams, if the rule was binned maybe there would be increased support for removing some aero to allow cars to follow closer and overtake.:P
  • I agree:o
  • No way should lapped traffic be allowed to 'race' leading cars.
  • just watched the 95 Monza race on "F1 Decade" it was a bit more competitive ad more overtaking... o course quit a bit of unexpected mechanical failures..definitely much closer racing
  • The blue flag rule should be modified to the effect that the driver being lapped MUST maintain the racing line.

    This is safer in respect that the slower driver's behaviour is 99% predictable.

    It seperates the men from the boys, in that lapping becomes more of an art, and more of a risk to the front runners(they're the hot shots, let them go onto the dirty side of the track.)

    Blue flag would then advise the slower driver to maintain the line and not defend.

    I'm positive this would lead to better racing.
  • The blue flag rule should be modified to the effect that the driver being lapped MUST maintain the racing line.

    This is safer in respect that the slower driver's behaviour is 99% predictable.

    It seperates the men from the boys, in that lapping becomes more of an art, and more of a risk to the front runners(they're the hot shots, let them go onto the dirty side of the track.)

    Blue flag would then advise the slower driver to maintain the line and not defend

    I'm positive this would lead to better racing.
    I agree with you. MAKE THEM PASS!!!. otherwise yoiu are slowing down all the time which means a possible top 10 finish turns into what we've seen this year for Minardi - 13, 14,15 place
  • just watched the 95 Monza race on "F1 Decade" it was a bit more competitive ad more overtaking... o course quit a bit of unexpected mechanical failures..definitely much closer racing
    Monza 95...where Taki Inoue gets some coverage because he's involved in another Schumacher-Hill collision that puts the latter two out of the race.

    And Herbert won!

    I think that F1 is close to being a really, really competitive sport- 2003 saw that when Ferrari couldn't get the Bridgestones working, Williams, Renault and McLaren (and Jaguar and Jordan and Toyota!) had shots at wins. The early 1990s backwards are regarded fondly, but the top 8 drivers would be covered by 3 seconds in qualifying, the rest much worse.

    If anyone looks at the 1992 season, you'll see exactly how much better that Williams was over the rest of the field. About 1.5-2 seconds a lap faster on occasions!
  • Ahem! Minardi had a shot at winning in 2003 too. :)
  • Please don't remind me. I just can't get that image out of my head. ;)
  • Sorry, but whatever race you're having at 18th place is totally irrelevant to the points outcome, the backmarkers should have to move over.
  • Don't agree. If you have a 107 rule, then you ought to allow the cars to race the circuit.

    Ditch the blue flags.
  • Sorry, but whatever race you're having at 18th place is totally irrelevant to the points outcome, the backmarkers should have to move over.
    Perhaps then it is time for points to be awarded from 1st to 20th. This would mean every position is relevant and provide interest all through the race and the season
  • Perhaps then it is time for points to be awarded from 1st to 20th
    What is this, NASCAR?!
  • Don The Elitist. Who'd a thought, eh?

    Look out dearie, your socialism's slipping.
  • Ahhh- only as an American holding the views I do would I dare be called a socialist. You all have no idea how warped the political landscape is here in relation to the rest of the world.

    I fully supported points down to 8th but was dismayed to see the bump for winning was not carried forward, discouraging overtaking for the lead, an endangered species anyway. I'd go for points to 10th, but they should retain some difficulty in scoring, points should mean something more than 'we showed up.'
  • Brundle goes on about this a fair bit and the bollockings he got from Tyrrell for losing too much time when being lapped. As long as you don't hold the guy up they should be forced to pass you with only the slightest lift and staying on the line.
  • The slightest lift at 150mph plus makes a hell of a difference. You can see it on the track. Instead of being 5 car lengths ahead. You send up 5 car lengths behind. I mean thats around about 11 car lengths you lose. I think.

    I think points to 8th are just right. But I agree that the gap between the top two should be bigger. Maybe the points should run 20 16 12 8 6 5 4 3 2 1. This would make the top 3 a bigger prize. If there was bigger gaps in points per positions as above. Then the chance to overtake would be taken. I think this season is a flop. The fact that you can't get near the ass end of a car. But the fact that Alonso pretty much needs to just finish every race to win the biggest prize in the game is ridiculous. This year could've been such a great Championship. But that bushy eyed Spaniard has ruined it. Saying he is going to battle and race for the Championship is bollocks. He knows that Kimi is better than him.
  • Fernando's championship position now is more a consequence of early domination and Kimi's recent reliability issues than the points system methinks. That blistered tire cost McLaren dearly.
  • Maybe

    But if there was a chance that Kimi could close finish 1st and Alonso 3rd and the gap would drop 6 pts like before. Then Alonso would have to fight for the title and maybe he would make some mistakes. But at the moment. He's just sitting back and waiting for the race in which he's crowned.
  • [quote]Perhaps then it is time for points to be awarded from 1st to 20th
    What is this, NASCAR?! [/quote]

    My point is that in each race 12 out of the 20 cars are merely racing for qualifying position at the next race which is absurd. They should be racing for the spoils in the race they are racing in. I also ageee with willie12masters that the gaps between points should be bigger to make each position vaiuable
  • Ahhh- only as an American holding the views I do would I dare be called a socialist. You all have no idea how warped the political landscape is here in relation to the rest of the world.

    I fully supported points down to 8th but was dismayed to see the bump for winning was not carried forward, discouraging overtaking for the lead, an endangered species anyway. I'd go for points to 10th, but they should retain some difficulty in scoring, points should mean something more than 'we showed up.'
    Points throughout the field would reward reliability and getting your car to the chequered flag. The points wouid tell you at a glance whose car/team are reliable and how they are doing vs their nearest rivals e.g. us and jordan - something that is not particularly clear with the current system


    [Edited on 2/9/2005 by Higbid]

  • Points throughout the field would reward reliability and getting your car to the chequered flag
    Don't mean to be harsh but- Big deal. Anyone in the field is capable of making a slow reliable car. The pinnacle of motorsport should be about speed. I'd trade 15 DNF's for one race with earned points.
  • "Fernando's championship position now is more a consequence of early domination"-dst

    I don't think you should try to change the rules late in the season to penalize Alonso for doing better in the early season and now he can cruise. Somethiing about that does not seem fair;) and I don't think htat's what you guys are suggestin are you? Perhaps a different poitn system for make it more competitive until later in the season is waht you guys are talkign about right? I jsut wanna make sure that I'm following this correctly.

    On the other hand, I think that there might be more interest in the sport in the US is there was more passing and some closer racing (yea, like Nascar). But hey, I'm just saying that from the US perspective. I've been watchiing some of he races from 10 years ago on F1 Decade and the races are a little more exciting wih the cars running closer and more passing. But that would hamper the technology adn innovation and that's why I don't like NASCAR!

    Godd discussion.

  • I don't think you should try to change the rules late in the season
    Of course not. Whether or not it's more competitive later in the season is wholly a consequence of teams keeping pace with the leader, in other words a coincidence. What I'm advocating is a bigger gap between 1st and 2nd places. There should be a greater emphasis on winning races.
  • [quote]
    Points throughout the field would reward reliability and getting your car to the chequered flag
    Don't mean to be harsh but- Big deal. Anyone in the field is capable of making a slow reliable car. The pinnacle of motorsport should be about speed. I'd trade 15 DNF's for one race with earned points. [/quote]

    fair enough, but that aint going to happen for Minardi (and I for one would love to see it) as F1 cars are getting more and more reliable. Manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda dont want images of their cars in smoke by the side of the track.

    I assume you use the phrase "slow reliable car"as a relative term - Minardi has been gradually narrowing the gap between itself and the midfield this season.
Sign In or Register to comment.