Run-Off Area Alternatives

[ESPImperium]

With the Tilkedromes and other tracks having problems with drivers exploiting track limits, especially on Vettels recent misdemeanour. How should tracks run off areas be changed to offer less reward for drivers to exploit track limits and still be safe and give drivers a second bite of the cherry, however be given a penalty for exploiting track limits.

I think there should be a 1 meter wide, or ideally 2 meter wide strip of grass-crete, as i think the grass will slow the drivers down as there is less grip, and also when they put the power down, a specially designed concrete mix, or a design that rips away at the rubber compound as well if the driver puts the power down in the wrong manner.

Thus giving a penalty of around 4 to 10 seconds immediately as well as the penalty of killing your tyres as well.

The tracks are safe enough at present, all that is needed is a little tinkering in order to make drivers adhere to the white lines and have more respect for the track limits as the extended run off areas have became an accepted way to gain an extra 3 tenths or more at certain points of the tracks.

As for the extra run off areas, id probably change them to a very abrasive tarmac as well that gives a penalty for using them as well, enough to make the tyres loose a extra half a lap over a stint in degradation.

What can be done to keep the safety in the tracks, but also give a penalty to use of theese areas?

[Cam]

Interesting. I think there's scope in what you're saying. Remove the timed penalty after the fact and instead have a surface that penalizes the driver if he goes in it, while remaining safe and can continue to race? Yeah, I like that. Not exactly sure how it would work but for sure worth a few boffins throwing up some concepts.

[Nando]

2 wheels on the tarmac at all times. If you break the rule you will get a drive-through the third time.
Would solve all the problems and still keep some of the DTM style, i liked 2010 when they could really attack the infield of Hockenheim

Did not like it either when they removed the curbs at Monza.
Most definitely because of one man who completely mastered them even in pouring rain....

[kris]

Might have been a bit extreme and dangerous, but didn't the orange kerb in india last year serve a similar purpose.Masa's car went over it once and the second time he tried the same, his suspension just gave up..

[raymondu999]

I've talked with someone who those of you who've been here a while should remember.

Here's what he had to say:

There is a solution, Tif, and you must have seen it, because you have read my very short and concise posts (oh, the good times you must have spent on them!) on circuits:

Paul Ricard abrasive stripes


As everybody, including young Adam, knows, the blue abrasive stripes damage your tyres forcing you to pit, the red ones disable the tyres and put you out of the race. Both types allow you to brake and recover if heading for the barriers. I have no idea what the white ones are for.

I wouldn't call FIA accomplices, I would call them cheap. Besides, if you ask me, the track looks cool.

[Cam]

Simply amazing. This has already be thought of and solved. It would allow drivers to be punished for mistakes, while preventing them from smashing their cars to bits on armco. Wonder if it is actually worth a serious look?

[SeijaKessen]

Here's a nice onboard shot in a Spyker...I believe this is the layout of Paul Ricard would have used had they been able to get F1 back for 2013.

The picture in the post by raymond is Mistral into Signes...you can see how it looks on the track level to see how the abrasive strips look when actually racing.



I do like the thought behind them, I just feel it is somewhat of an eyesore.

[piast9]

As far as I understand the role of abrasive strips at Paul Ricard they damage the tyres but only if driver is braking hard or locks up the brakes. Then they work like sandpaper on the tyre. If you drive normally on them they won't destroy anything so Vettel-style overtaking is still possible.

[machin]

a few years back Autosport had an article suggesting a sort of "double kerb" to stop people running over them as they would upset the suspension too much.... I always thought a better solution would be a band of very low friction tarmac (Teflon coated?!) at the edge of the track so you can't put the power down unless you went right over it onto the run-off area proper (which would then incur a penalty for running outside the track limits if you gained a position as now).

[raymondu999]

Perhaps they could do a variation of the negative vallelungas kerbing we see at Canada's/Spain's chicane? The ones they introduced into Monza in 2009.

[richard_leeds]

Personally I'd prefer a strip of gravel for the way it penalises a driver but they can still creep out of the back. Obviously gravel is not perfect but should safe in slow to medium speed corners.

Small kerbs to create a chicane effect in run off areas also impede run off, but tend to make cars airborne.

The clearest example was Kimi at Spa (08?) when he "ran wide" on the first corner at the start and gained 2 or 3 places. Of course he said he was avoiding an accident, but it looked awfully premeditated.

[raymondu999]

It wasn't just 08. Kimi often uses that runoff at T1 of Lap 1.

[SeijaKessen]

Personally I'd prefer a strip of gravel for the way it penalises a driver but they can still creep out of the back. Obviously gravel is not perfect but should safe in slow to medium speed corners.

Small kerbs to create a chicane effect in run off areas also impede run off, but tend to make cars airborne.

The clearest example was Kimi at Spa (08?) when he "ran wide" on the first corner at the start and gained 2 or 3 places. Of course he said he was avoiding an accident, but it looked awfully premeditated.

I actually think lower/medium speed corners should all have gravel traps on the outside/inside. There's zero reason for tarmac runoff in a low speed corner.

Kerbs need to be slightly higher in corners like the hairpin at the end of the Parabolika at Hockenheim to prevent guys from going off the way Vettel did.

I do think track design across F1 needs to be readdressed quite badly. The changes made to many F1 circuits has been such you have drivers trying exploit a lot of the deficiencies that exist due to tarmac runoff, and minimal kerbs. If you give a lot of these guys an inch, much like the engineers, they will exploit these areas of the track to their maximum benefit.

[bhallg2k]

Simply amazing. This has already be thought of and solved. It would allow drivers to be punished for mistakes, while preventing them from smashing their cars to bits on armco. Wonder if it is actually worth a serious look?

Yas Marina Circuit

[thearmofbarlow]

Quite simple, really. Grass should be the only thing right next to the track. It provides just enough traction for the drivers to maintain control while punishing offs. That's in low to mid speed corners. High speed corners and corners approached under heavy braking from high speed (hairpins at end of straights, for example) should have tarmac runoff areas simply because it does provide a level of safety for both drivers and spectators. Gravel traps are good for nobody. They end races prematurely, for no good reason.