The F1 2014 season

rpstewart · 11 Mar 2014 at 20:58

Reaper 392 said:
My knowledge in F1 doesnt really go that far back, but a drive in the McLaren MP4/4 or any of the old williams cars with driving aids would be a good shout

Without spending hours in old copies of Autocourse I think Hungary 96 is the nearest we've seen - Hill and Villeneuve were less than a second apart with Alesi 1:24 back. Fastest lap that year was a 1:20...

92/93 weren't as clear cut as all that, Schumacher and Senna weren't as quick as the Williams but they certainly weren't a lap down.

EDIT: Detroit 88, Senna and Prost were the only finishers on the lead lap...

deuse · 11 Mar 2014 at 21:14

I think Senna overtook everyone but the 2nd place guy.

this_is_gav · 11 Mar 2014 at 21:27

Frentzen and Coulthard must have come close to lapping Hakkinen and Irvine at the Nurburgring in 1999 (thought neither Frentzen or Coulthard finished).

Though I'm sure it's happened since, the last race I remember the entire field being lapped was Adelaide in 1995, though in that race all of Hill's rivals retired, and he was 'chased' home by Panis, 2 laps down, and with an engine which was very much on its last legs for the final 5 laps or so.

Oh, Schumacher and Barrichello lapped the entire field at Indy in 2005. Does that count?

Lt_Red · 13 Mar 2014 at 22:21

This is worth a watch on the build up to this weekend:

Also, qualifying rules changed, Q3 competetors get an extra set of tyres for Q3 but have to hand them back at the end and start on the tyres they set the fastest time on Q2.

Mr Jack · 13 Mar 2014 at 22:43

It's ridiculous that a driver such as Lewis needed to cut weight. They need to increase the weight limits.

Glaucus · 13 Mar 2014 at 22:48

It doesn't really matter what the weight limit is, they will be told to cut, as that weight will be far better as ballast in a low centre of gravity position.

The only way to do it is say driver has to be x-kilos, and if they're lighter than that, the remaining ballast goes say in the car directly behind their back. But good luck getting anyone to agree that.

Mr Jack · 13 Mar 2014 at 23:06

Glaucus said:
It doesn't really matter what the weight limit is, they will be told to cut, as that weight will be far better as ballast in a low centre of gravity position.

Since Lewis was told to cut extra weight from last year that clearly isn't true. Yes, drivers have always needed to stay reasonably light but it can go too far.

Glaucus · 13 Mar 2014 at 23:26

The weight limit was already increased this year, due to heavier engine. And I bet you they will be running ballast. that means its down to the team, as the PU this year is heavier and higher they simply want to lower the COG and that requires ballast and removing weight from the highest mass in the car (driver) rather than an actual weight issue, if they are running zero ballast and still need drivers to slim down then yes that would be an issue, but I bet this is not what is happening.
However next year it'll be raised another 10kilos.