And humid. None of it "absurd" for the fecking desert in October.
F1 2023 Season
- Thread starter pauldyson1uk
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Just watched the highlights and that was such a poor move from Lewis cutting across his team mate, even more silly they had a fast car capable of a double podium. He had space to go wider and avoid the collision or just hold back instead of making a risky three car wide corner.
Couldn't watch the race, but seems absurd to put the drivers through such an ordeal. I know these are highly paid athletes and all that jazz, but it's literally putting their health and safety at risk. Logan Sargeant was smart and mature enough to retire, but it could just as well have ended in a driver feinting behind the wheel and causing a crash. There are some parallels to the governing bodies having footballers play 70 games a year to squeeze the last bit of revenue out of them. It's a bad trend.
I think Lewis will be very disappointed with his last 6 or so races.
Obviously points wise he had done well but he has been involved in 4 or 5 incidents in those races. Luckily for him today was the only one he dnfd or sustained any real damage.
In the other incidents it was the other drivers who came out worse in terms of damage.
His wheel to wheel has been very very poor since the summer break. As has his Quali perferomance which he has said himself.
Obviously points wise he had done well but he has been involved in 4 or 5 incidents in those races. Luckily for him today was the only one he dnfd or sustained any real damage.
In the other incidents it was the other drivers who came out worse in terms of damage.
His wheel to wheel has been very very poor since the summer break. As has his Quali perferomance which he has said himself.
Apparently, multiple drivers were feeling unwell during and after the race, not just Logan. You could see many struggling to get some air in during the race. Ocon threw up in his helmet at some point. Alonso wanted the team to pour a bucket of water on him while still in the car. There's a video of Stroll shambling towards an ambulance after struggling to get out of his car. He says he was nearly unconscious during the high speed corners. Albon, and reportedly other drivers, went to the medical center with symptoms of heatstroke. And Magnussen asked his team to use leaf blowers on him.
Absolute shambles that has no place on the calendar.
Absolute shambles that has no place on the calendar.
Saw someone elsewhere make the good comment that after watching several drivers struggling to get out of their cars: what if another Grosjean accident had happened? They wouldn't have been able to save themselves in time. Absolutely bonkers when you think about it in those terms.
It was a cool shot but also silly to see Lewis walk away with cars flying by behind him. Not sure what he was thinking there. These intra team battles are always interesting from a penalty perspective. Seems they are often much more lenient in those cases. Had either of the Mercs taken out Max with it or any of the cars behind it I presume they would have looked at it differently.
Not only that, it was absolutely feasible that someone passes out while in a high speed corner going flat out and basically head on into the wall on full throttle. It was far far closer than it looked, to a catastrophe not seen for decades in F1.
ive been in qatar in 45 degree heat and its unbearable outside. Apparently trackside temps were 65-70 degree yesterday. Plus the three layers of clothing and the helmets the drivers have to wear. Madness.
I know for 2026 the cars are getting lighter and smaller, plus a 40% reduction in overall downforce. However surely they add in a ventilation package into the cars as lance stroll suggested.
Apparently from lap 20 onwards stroll said he was struggling to stay awake and not passout. Thats absolutely unacceptable for a sport.
This is what happens when you sign up to races in deserts and make no allowances for driver comfort or saftey.
This race is later in the year next season but I don't know how much of a guarantee that is for this to not happen again.
Also got to love the armchair tough guys on social media who claim that drivers barely being able to get out of the car by themselves is what sports is all about and F1 should be challenging etc blah blah..
Idiots.
Also got to love the armchair tough guys on social media who claim that drivers barely being able to get out of the car by themselves is what sports is all about and F1 should be challenging etc blah blah..
Idiots.
An excellent and horrifiying read on yesterday.
Logan Sargent is my driver of the day btw. Takes alot of courage to do what he did.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-lucky-escape-qatar-grand-prix-step-too-far
"...F1 has strict rules for how quickly a driver must be able to extricate themselves – that figure is five seconds. Pushing drivers into a state of exhaustion means some needed minutes to compose themselves enough to get the energy to drag themselves out – imagine a situation like Romain Grosjean’s 2020 Bahrain crash unfolding. Would the drivers have had their wits about them – and the sufficient energy – to be able to co-ordinate themselves to get out of their car in five seconds? It doesn’t seem likely.."
"...while Yuki Tsunoda was unable to cool down behind the wheel. Complaining of being “just too, too hot”, he had attempted to cool down by opening his visor at high speed, only to get sand particles going straight into his eyes..."
"..The infamous ‘wet-bulb’ measurement might be something F1 needs to evaluate for introduction to its own rulebooks. The ‘critical’ wet-bulb threshold, the point at which healthy people can survive for six hours, is regarded as an air temperature of 35 degrees celsius with a humidity of 75%. With 60+ percent humidity during the Qatar Grand Prix, together with the elevated cockpit temperatures the drivers were subjected to, it’s clear that the circumstances of the race pushed the drivers very close to the limits of what is regarded as survivable – and that’s for people simply existing, not taking part in a Grand Prix.
Logan Sargent is my driver of the day btw. Takes alot of courage to do what he did.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-lucky-escape-qatar-grand-prix-step-too-far
"...F1 has strict rules for how quickly a driver must be able to extricate themselves – that figure is five seconds. Pushing drivers into a state of exhaustion means some needed minutes to compose themselves enough to get the energy to drag themselves out – imagine a situation like Romain Grosjean’s 2020 Bahrain crash unfolding. Would the drivers have had their wits about them – and the sufficient energy – to be able to co-ordinate themselves to get out of their car in five seconds? It doesn’t seem likely.."
"...while Yuki Tsunoda was unable to cool down behind the wheel. Complaining of being “just too, too hot”, he had attempted to cool down by opening his visor at high speed, only to get sand particles going straight into his eyes..."
"..The infamous ‘wet-bulb’ measurement might be something F1 needs to evaluate for introduction to its own rulebooks. The ‘critical’ wet-bulb threshold, the point at which healthy people can survive for six hours, is regarded as an air temperature of 35 degrees celsius with a humidity of 75%. With 60+ percent humidity during the Qatar Grand Prix, together with the elevated cockpit temperatures the drivers were subjected to, it’s clear that the circumstances of the race pushed the drivers very close to the limits of what is regarded as survivable – and that’s for people simply existing, not taking part in a Grand Prix.
What an idiot.
FIA statement
“The FIA notes with concern that the extreme temperature and humidity during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix had an impact on the well-being of the drivers,” the governing body said in a statement released on Monday.
“While being elite athletes, they should not be expected to compete under conditions that could jeopardise their health or safety.
“The safe operation of the cars is, at all times, the responsibility of the Competitors, however as with other matters relating to safety such as circuit infrastructure and car safety requirements, the FIA will take all reasonable measures to establish and communicate acceptable parameters in which Competitions are held.”
“The FIA notes with concern that the extreme temperature and humidity during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix had an impact on the well-being of the drivers,” the governing body said in a statement released on Monday.
“While being elite athletes, they should not be expected to compete under conditions that could jeopardise their health or safety.
“The safe operation of the cars is, at all times, the responsibility of the Competitors, however as with other matters relating to safety such as circuit infrastructure and car safety requirements, the FIA will take all reasonable measures to establish and communicate acceptable parameters in which Competitions are held.”
Will Buxton had a similar take. It’s weird that they don’t show more respect for the drivers that essentially make their jobs a possibility. Jackasses.
It ll be interesting to see if someone like Max will speak out more about this situation specifically because it feels like he's becoming more comfortable doing so. Though when it comes to something like conditions he strikes me as Brundle like old school, or at least is probably not as likely to admit he suffered a lot. Buxton doesn't shock me because he's paid to prance around like a PR pony.
Here is what Max said re the tyres, kerbs, track limit shenanigans this weekend:
Driving in the rain is one thing. Passing out from heat exhaustion is entirely a different kettle of fish. I really like Brundle but he's had a stinker there.
Max already said it was too extreme. Though he wouldnt have suffered the worst of it as he was in clean air. The midfield pack had the super heated air from the exhausts to drive though.
George Russell said if it had gotten any hotter he would have retired from the race as he was struggling to drive the car.
Brundle’s comments are fair enough, even if I don’t agree with them, given he drove F1 cars in the far more dangerous 80s.
Buxton is a nobody and as he clearly doesn’t understand the risk, should keep his mouth shut.
Just make a closed full air conditioned circuit. 
That's shocking from Brundle. I've not even watched the last few races so unsure of the complete context. However if it's against new fangled soulless middle east or American tracks then consider me onboard.
It's nonsense from Brundle and incredibly stupid as I imagine he will be one of the first to call out the FIA on issues which hamper driver safety. The conditions in Qatar were absolutely not safe. Risk of drivers passing out or vomiting can lead to death.
I very rarely disagree with Brundle but he's talking out of his arse there.
TBF he is right about the example he gave, those are the races that made F1, we all either watched the races has they happened or from YouTube, post crash Lauda was amazing to watch.
We all want races in the wet, Lauda was a legend.
But how the hell does that equate to driving in condition that made most of grid ill, made them puke in their helmets, drivers fainting after the race, drivers needing urgent medical attention, drivers saying they passed out in fast corners.
This is not the F1 we want to see ever again, if Brundle thinks that what F1 fans want to see, he has it massively wrong.
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I really hope the bolded hasn't actually happened.
Not sure about completely passing out, but Lance for instance did say he in essence lost consciousness in high speed corners during the last 20 laps or so. Ocon also said he threw up more than once.
This is what I meant, I worded it badly.
Well I hope he is exaggerating because if not we were really very close to something horrific. Also I think its irresponsible for a driver to keep racing if he experiences such a problem. Fair fecks to Logan in that regard.
Jokes are pretty spot on this time 
:
Qatar GP 2023 | Highlights | Formula 1 Animated C…:
:Qatar GP 2023 | Highlights | Formula 1 Animated C…:
Belgium GP extended till 2025. Obviously dangerous to drivers health GPs such as Qatar get a 10 year deal.
Its all about how much money you can throw at FIA.
Its all about how much money you can throw at FIA.
I really wish the F1 calendar would take advantage of international breaks. Sadly, they rarely seem to overlap.
Imagine F1 without Verstappen right now. You'd legit have a 7-way fight for the title.
Verstappen is not the issue as both Lewis and Alonso could challenge him and/or beat him. The issue is the red bull car and team are just so far ahead.
They are only so far ahead in his hands though, in Checo's they're about level with the three chasing teams.
Thats cause checo is rubbish. Alonso and Hamilton could do exactly what max has done in the RB this season.
I'm not debating that, just saying that you take Max out of the equation then you have 7 drivers who could realistically win. Every race would be massive.
Next season and 2025 is a massive test of the new rules. In theory the pack i.e. ferrari/merc/mclaren should catch up to RB. As RB have the least amount of CFD and Wind Tunnel time. Although they started working on the 2024 car back in April/May.
Cautiously optimisitic that the gap to RB should reduce. Hoepfully the other teams will have figured out the DRS trick that RB use and will be able to negate that advantage.
Then again Adrian Newey could come up with some other brilliant idea.
To be fair - neither Alonso nor Lewis were ever this scary consistent. And their teams also fecked up a lot of strategic calls. RB still managed to win races during the Merc days because either Lewis or his teammate fecked up, or their team as a whole did.
Yes agree, Hamilton was bickering with Rosberg. Also the reliability of the cars has increased alot in past few seasons due to the stringent rules about parts.
Give max a strong driver as a partner instead if checo and theres a chance RB could have lost races if the squabbling between rhe pair boiled over.
They will catch up but everyone except Ferrari have only changed concept this season so unfortunately I expect RB to still be ahead next season though maybe not as dominant.