F1 2020

[samoht]

Back to Romain's crash, I think the barrier separation is the root cause of the problem and something that would be worth addressing for next year. There are at least four problems if the barrier allows the car to penetrate it:

1) People may stand behind barrier thinking they're safe there, but the car could come through
2) The car penetrating the barrier may injure the driver unpredictably as it goes through (albeit the Halo helped on this occasion)
3) The driver may be trapped in the car if it's enveloped in the barrier (a problem in case of fire, or if the driver needs urgent medical help)
4) A car enveloped in the barrier can then be subject to pulling and twisting forces, not just the 'pushing' forces its designed to handle (hence breaking apart in an unexpected manner here)


All of these can be avoided if the surface of the barrier can remain intact - it's ok if there's some 'give' as it deflects, but it shouldn't open up like this. The Halo wouldn't have been needed if the car hadn't penetrated the barrier. Also, I think it was the twisting force caused by the front of the car being wedged in the barrier that opened up the fuel lines, causing the fire. And even with the fire, it wouldn't be so bad if it had been easier for Romain to get out.

There are quite a few examples of tragic accidents where cars have got tangled up with barriers in the past - Jochen Rindt at Monza and Francois Cevert at Watkins Glen. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I think that's the question.

[JoeW]

As soon as they resumed and showed the concrete barriers there instead I thought, well that's alot better than the metal rails.

[FaultyMario]

Stolen from Twitter:

39-year old Fernando Alonso is granted permission to participate in Formula One's Young Driver test...

... three years after winning Indy 500's Rookie of the Year honors.

[Blerpa]

Ganassi has officialised: Kevin Magnussen will race for its DPi team in IMSA for 2021.

[samoht]

It appears that the side of the halo on driver's right folded upwards in the crash, giving Romain more space to get out the side. Normally it doesn't look like it would be possible to get a helmet through the side of the halo. If this turns out to be true, Romain is incredibly, incredibly lucky. And also a superhero. I read that his racing boot was stuck in a broken pedal and he had to take it off to get himself free of the car. All while burning after a 53G impact. With no room to get your hands down there to aid in that removal. Utterly amazing if this is the case.

There's a bit more from Romain about how he eventually got out here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55172481 - sounds like a very sticky situation, and does sound like he might have got out sideways somehow.

[Crazed_Insanity]

Hearing this from himself only made the story even more amazing!

[2ndMoparMan]

I'm a bit late, but this accident reminded me much of Michael Waltrip and Mike Harmon's crash at Bristol.

[FaultyMario]

dude has reasons to be grateful:

[Rare White Ape]

Here's a good detailing of the Bahrain outer circuit via the use of mods in Assetto Corsa. I love the big sweepy bit.

Apparently each car will have an average distance of 140 meters to the next car. I am chomping at the bit to see this track in action!

[FaultyMario]

FP1 and lap times are already in the upper 54s.