2014 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

[i70q7m7ghw]

Was the car actually UNDER the tractor? seing those pics i don't see how it could be possible, the rear is lower than the "shoulder line" of the car, or did it actually lift the tractor on impact (not possible i think...)

It did go under, and most of the car was torn apart as it did. The tractor in those images has moved forwards after the crash.

[void]

Even with big cranes, or small ones marchalls are suceptibles to tires, and to be hit by other cars. A 60 kmph F-1 car, can kill a marshal.

[iotar__]

I wonder if number of fans of evil tarmac run-offs and DRS increased after this race. Two elements that enabled a win for a faster driver or was it not pure enough?

As for yellow flags speeding (detached completely from Suzuka):
- exhibit 1- Rosberg Silverstone ignored
- exhibit 2 - Magnussen in Australia: "While the telemetry was inconclusive due to very different track conditions between laps, the stewards were satisfied from the video and the driver’s explanation that he was sufficiently slow and under control,” Didn't crash=sufficiently under control=satisfaction

[timbo]

Was the car actually UNDER the tractor? seing those pics i don't see how it could be possible, the rear is lower than the "shoulder line" of the car, or did it actually lift the tractor on impact (not possible i think...)

How else could the rollof would be destroyed like that?

[Jano11]

Was the car actually UNDER the tractor? seing those pics i don't see how it could be possible, the rear is lower than the "shoulder line" of the car, or did it actually lift the tractor on impact (not possible i think...)

How else could the rollof would be destroyed like that?

Parts of the chassis and body shell have been cut by the extraction team in order to get the driver out, there are pictures out there with various degrees of missing parts from that Marussia.

[Just_a_fan]

Is the restriction on radio communication with driver a factor here?

I think they're allowed to warn drivers about safety issues but they wouldn't say "don't crash at turn X as there's a crane there" anyway. The drivers know there is an issue because of the yellow flags/lights. It's entirely possible that Bianchi was distracted by something at a critical moment. Or perhaps he even had a slow puncture that hadn't yet been picked up by anyone.

[RZS10]

Was the car actually UNDER the tractor? seing those pics i don't see how it could be possible, the rear is lower than the "shoulder line" of the car, or did it actually lift the tractor on impact (not possible i think...)

How else could the rollof would be destroyed like that?

That's what makes it weird to me ... partially flipping/leaning due to impact?

[Afterburner]

Was the car actually UNDER the tractor? seing those pics i don't see how it could be possible, the rear is lower than the "shoulder line" of the car, or did it actually lift the tractor on impact (not possible i think...)

How else could the rollof would be destroyed like that?

A crane has at least 3mm steel panels all around, it's harder than a concrete wall and with very low energy dissipation.

[kaller]

So Charlie randomly sent out safety cars when cars spun in the dry. He lets this race start under SC but he does not deploy it when sending out heavy machinery on a wet track right in a corner with not much safety room? Sounds not really sane. SC procudures need to be revisited, they seem totally random and sometimes lead by factors other than safety.

This is just plain wrong:
1. There is nothing random about the safety cars this year, they are just less likely. Cars spinning away from the racing line did not cause any SC this year. Every SC this year was well founded by parts on the racing line or heavy accidents.
2. Not deploying the SC did not cause the accident. There was double yellow, under SC the cars would not have been slower there.

I think it is not good to start the (usual) manhunt on Charlie on the back of Jules tragic accident. I do not like him too, but one has to discuss the true reason for this accident. The problem is the tractor immediately entering the "unsafe" area of the track. This is the second heavy accident within one year with these stupid tractors, one already deadly...hopefully not also the second.

I'm sorry I can't out any specific race as I find it hard to remeber. But there quite some races this year where I did not understand why one accident caused a SC and another one (usually towards the end of the race) did not.
Also by your logic, if double yellow is enough, why do we have a SC anyways? You said yourelf that the tractor entering usafe area was a problem. Is this not reason enough for a SC? If not, what would be? We've seen much less dangerous situatons where SC got deployed.

But as other users also pointed out, the way drivers basically ignore yellow and the stewards not punishing them is basically the root problem. The whole situation is not under control anymore. Incosistent SC deployment doesn't help either.
As a sidenote: In recent times IIRC we have also seen some flying tyres or tyres almost hitting the driver, I thought this should not happen anymore either. Yet they are supposed to be happy with it claiming that this only happens on rare occasions where the impact force was too high instead of trying to find ways to also finally fix these problems.

If something an accident happens and nobody gets hurt seriously, it's all thanks the high FIA safety standards. But when things go wrong, it's the drivers fault and bad circumenstances involved.

[i70q7m7ghw]

Was the car actually UNDER the tractor? seing those pics i don't see how it could be possible, the rear is lower than the "shoulder line" of the car, or did it actually lift the tractor on impact (not possible i think...)

How else could the rollof would be destroyed like that?

Parts of the chassis and body shell have been cut by the extraction team in order to get the driver out, there are pictures out there with various degrees of missing parts from that Marussia.

Source? I don't believe any parts of the car were 'cut'. The car as you see it in those pictures is how it came to rest after the accident. The tractor was still over the rear half of the car, and was driven forwards.

[Jano11]

Source? I don't believe any parts of the car were 'cut'. The car as you see it in those pictures is how it came to rest after the accident. The tractor was still over the rear half of the car, and was driven forwards.

The source are the various pictures around. On some pictures there is an engine cover on it, on some there isn't.

[Jano11]

BTW, good news (in this case), the surgery went well and according to French media he is not on ventilation, can breath unaided.

[zack!]

Crane could move a little forward and I think Sutil said Bianchi did the same thing as himself : did lose control and glide with small spinning. Sutil hit backward the wall. So perphaps Bianchi hit 3/4 backward the back of the crane and turn around against the crane to finish forward. We don't know how it happened exactly...

The photo with engine was during lift up of bianchi, so after the accident, perhaps they replaced some debris more or less were they should have been ? The photo with Bianchi inside is "before" the lift up...

[prince]

With due respect to all the emotions and to continue showing our support to Jules, can all the discussion around the unfortunate accident be moved to a separate thread? In that way, we can continue to track his progress too.

[i70q7m7ghw]

Source? I don't believe any parts of the car were 'cut'. The car as you see it in those pictures is how it came to rest after the accident. The tractor was still over the rear half of the car, and was driven forwards.

The source are the various pictures around. On some pictures there is an engine cover on it, on some there isn't.

Be sure you are looking at the correct pictures, some pictures were posted of a different crash.