But, it's really a bit off topic there, as that whole discussion sort of is, getting a lot of stuff in.
So, reposting as a separate thread (because I couldn't find a good recent thread to add it to - if there is, let's get it in there, otherwise, I'll keep it here.
Quoting a solid post from Diesel fully, including discussion about the different race notes as my post/the article I wanted to post/quote add the Spa section too, and
This is the original post I moved here:Diesel wrote: ↑28 Sep 2020, 10:23Here's the section covering practice starts from the Mugello event notes
And here's the section from the Sochi event notes18) Practice starts
18.1 During each practice session, practice starts may only be carried out on the right-hand side after the end of the Pit Wall indicated by the yellow grid marking. Drivers wishing to carry out a practice start
should stop on the right in order to allow other cars to pass on their left. See image 1 on page 6.
18.2 During the time the pit exit is open for the race, practice starts may be carried out after the end of
the pit wall and adjacent to the orange band on the left-hand side barrier. Drivers wishing to carry
out a practice start should stop on the right in order to allow other cars to pass on their left. See
image 1 on page 6.
18.3 During these times any driver passing a car which has stopped to carry out a practice start may
cross the white line that is referred to in 19.1 below. Any driver crossing this line must move back to
the right of it as quickly as possible.
18.4 For reasons of safety and sporting equity, cars may not stop in the fast lane at any time the pit exit
is open without a justifiable reason (a practice start is not considered a justifiable reason).And then the stewards reason for the penalty19) Practice starts
19.1 Practice starts may only be carried out on the right-hand side after the pit exit lights and, for the
avoidance of doubt, this includes any time the pit exit is open for the race.
Drivers must leave adequate room on their left for another driver to pass.
19.2 For reasons of safety and sporting equity, cars may not stop in the fast lane at any time the pit exit
is open without a justifiable reason (a practice start is not considered a justifiable reason).Breach of the FIA International Sporting Code Article 12.1.1 (i), failure to follow the
instructions contained in the Event Notes (v3) item 19.1, practice start location at
13:35 and Article 36.1 FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.
The driver performed the practice start near the end, but directly in the pit exit. Art 36.1
requires drivers to use constant throttle and constant speed in the pit exit other than in
the place designated for practice starts in the Event Notes item 19.1., which is defined
as the place ”on the right hand side” after the pit exit lights (and is not part of the track
as defined by lines) which has been known to all competitors and used without
exception.
So, only one set of examples from the FIA having trouble staying clear and consistent. Now, let's try and keep it to a clean discussion on how this sort of thing keeps happening, rather than Lecler is being helped/Hamilton was stupid/is being persecuted and things like that, because they are dead-ends for any discussion.bosyber wrote: ↑29 Sep 2020, 11:20Did anyone post this article (Motorlat based on Spa Event notes). According to those notes/the article, at Spa:
I mean, still going with 'FIA is inconsistent' here, but it again being Leclerc not punished for something others at least get investigated for, man, doing well there in being consistent FIA (and not helping against a 'no really they are consistent, consistently unfair, and Ferrari International Assistance stuf).On August 30th, Leclerc ended up in the radar of the Federation, accused of driving unnecessarily slowly. No further action was guaranteed for the following reason, as written in the document promptly retrieved by our editor Sarah Otele.
“The Race Director’s Note to Teams specified a maximum time of 2:04.0 between the Safety Car lines and car 16 recorded a time of 2:06.087. However, the Team advised that the driver had crossed SC2 line hence triggering the timing for the lap, then stopped for approximately 12 seconds to perform a practice start, then completed the Reconnaissance Lap. This was independently verified by the Stewards from the on board video of Car 16. Accordingly, no breach was determined to have occurred”.
A practice start surfaces, although the investigation was strictly linked to the slow driving matter. Looking at the Belgian GP Event Notes, more information is provided about practice starts.
“18.1 During each practice session, practice starts may only be carried out on the right-hand side after leaving the pit lane. These must be done prior to the SC2 line and with all four wheels between the white line on the right-hand edge of the pit exit and the wall. (the area bordered by black in the photograph on page 6).
18.2 During the time the pit exit is open for the race, practice starts may be carried out on the track after the pit exit before the SC2 line. Drivers wishing to carry out a practice start should stop wholly within the pit exit in order to allow other cars to pass on their left (the area bordered by red in the photograph on page 6). During this time any driver passing a car which has stopped to carry out a practice start may cross the white line that is referred to in 19.1 below”.
Comparing the two events’ notes, it becomes clear that Charles Leclerc performed a practice start out of the designated area, whilst he did it metres away from the SC2 line. However, the issue was not noted by the FIA nor it was investigated, inevitably prompting the perpetuous debate on clarity over the rules.
Would this be better in a different thread about the FIA being consistent/not yet again (how often have we had this discussion in the last 30 years, sigh - after 2008 we went off having 1 steward that went to all races, introduced to get the rulings more consistent, but with Spa and other things that year being seen as a Mosley stooge who was anti McLaren/Hamilton, now I see people asking for such a steward again, presumably w/o recalling, or just trusting Todt to be more impartial?! All very F1 with the revolving door rules)
Clear solutions: 1) clearer, and consistent event notes. This should work for clear cut procedure things like the practice restart, you'd think.
But, for collisions and such, there is just no way the stewards have time to compare previous rulings, and virtually impossible to ask of them that they look at previous events where similar things were not investigated at all, I'd say, even though from a 'legal' view that's probably exactly what should happen. And if a time or other sporting penalty was given, which influences the event, well, there's a practical reason that cannot be appealed, because there is no way to fix an injured party after the fact.
About Leclerc's hit of Stroll - for now, let's just say 'first lap incident hence not looked at' - as with all the numerous arguments around that sort of thing, objectively comparing one racing incident to another and assigning blame, especially here on the forum, but also clearly for the stewards, is really hard because there are a lot of parameters.
But even with things like track limits, it seems to be hard. In other sports there is a single, clear rule for when something is in,on, or over the line (tennis, soccer, etc), but then in F1 we had Vettel not getting penalised because the bulging side-wall of his tyre seemed like it could have been on the line still, according to some images. Is it hard to decide, or sometimes just reaching (personal opinion coming in, there momentarily sorry). That sort of things can and should be defined, by a letter of the law. With the new 18'' tyres, the sidewall is probably not bulging as much, but in any case, just making it about the rolling surface of the tyre would seem sensible.
Is it even worth discussing this or should we just learn to live with it?
