FIA Clarifies Radio Communication Rules

[cosworth151]

Below is a link to the revised F1 radio communication rules.

I find a couple of things in the opening section interesting:

These restrictions will apply :

- To all communications to the driver including, but not limited to, radio and pit boards.

- At all times the car is out of the pit lane with the engine running and the driver on board (with the exception of the slowing down lap once the driver has crossed the Line at the end of the race).

First, they're even going to restrict pit board messages? Is that too high tech for them?

Second, does "out of the pit lane" mean that they could get a message to the driver by doing it during a drive-through?


http://www.motorsport.com/all/article/?id=800599

[J.Clark]

Interest question actually.

Additionally, why would it not include things such as, "Box, box, box!" since that is to do with some of the same issues technically that they are saying can't be done.

[Jericoke]

Interest question actually.

Additionally, why would it not include things such as, "Box, box, box!" since that is to do with some of the same issues technically that they are saying can't be done.

Quite frankly it would spice up the sport if the drivers had to call their own pitstop and tire strategy.

[Scott]

Best thing for the sport would be to prevent the FIA from writing any more rules that aren't directly related to safety issues (and probably most of them as well).

[John S]

Makes sense to me that when a car has issues the best place to solve it is pit lane.

Of course they can tell the car to box, and under the new interpretation of the rules they can tell a car it has trouble even when the driver is not aware of it. The big rub is the car must come into the pit lane to get instructions on how to resolve the issue - but that also makes sense too.

I'd say a bit of sanity, at last, from the FIA.

 

[Scott]

F1 is a spectator sport, and ever since the first car to pit radio messages been broadcast, it opened up another aspect of the sport the fans could begin to understand and appreciate.  It gave us insight into more technical aspects of the race, strategy, driver management and engine programming that we had no idea about before. 

The FIA is closing that down without any valid reason.  If coaching was really the problem, they could have simply banned any telemetry discussion where they are suggesting different lines or braking points.  Let the teams talk about car feedback and technical issues that aren't "coaching". 

I don't call these latest interpretations by Whiting and his gang of fools to be anything near sane.

[Alianora La Canta]

Pit boards (and all forms of pit-to-car communication) have always been covered by the radio rules, so nothing's changed there.

Yes, the permission for unrestricted messages to be issued if in the pitlane is deliberate - it forces anyone doing so to issue themselves a drive-through and save the stewards the bother.

[Jericoke]

F1 is a spectator sport, and ever since the first car to pit radio messages been broadcast, it opened up another aspect of the sport the fans could begin to understand and appreciate.  It gave us insight into more technical aspects of the race, strategy, driver management and engine programming that we had no idea about before. 

The FIA is closing that down without any valid reason.  If coaching was really the problem, they could have simply banned any telemetry discussion where they are suggesting different lines or braking points.  Let the teams talk about car feedback and technical issues that aren't "coaching". 

I don't call these latest interpretations by Whiting and his gang of fools to be anything near sane.

F1 IS a spectator sport, and while viewers at home can hear the radio broadcasts, fans at the track can't.

Giving people incentive to stay home for a 'more complete' experience won't help the sport out.

[Scott]

F1 IS a spectator sport, and while viewers at home can hear the radio broadcasts, fans at the track can't.

Giving people incentive to stay home for a 'more complete' experience won't help the sport out.

Fans at the track can hear even more radio transmissions than at home if they rent a Kangaroo - http://formula1.about.com/od/resourcesandenhancers/a/kangarootv.htm

And as you know from going to races yourself, the live experience can't compare to the couch version, but in fact both have pros and cons.  Sky's offerings of different views to premium customers is more than you would get at the track, but again, if you rent a Kangaroo, and feel the need to watch a teeny tiny TV in the blazing sun, you too can watch different camera views and choose what you like.