minimum seat and driver weight

[lebesset]

I read a report that said that drivers cannot agree on the implementation of this idea ; no great surprise , some will lose

but why doesn't the FIA introduce this rule so the bigger drivers get a fair deal , or will it continue to be an advantage to be jockey sized ?

most smaller drivers would still continue to enjoy some advantage due to lower C of G anyway unless the FIA implemented a minimum eye level for safety reasons

[Tim.Wright]

I have mentioned doing exactly this before. Its such a simple solution to the problem - even more so since they mandated that the seats must be removable for emergency driver extraction.

[basti313]

FIA is ignoring the problem completely. The repellent Jean Todt comment on the Vergne incident showed, that he does not even want to joint the discussion in a useful manner.

If we do not see a accident or a driver fading away in an interview FIA will do nothing. But if something like this happens we will get the seat weight and maybe even a mandatory drinking bottle because of safety concerns.

[astracrazy]

I think this is a 100% sell. It doesnt matter about other drivers losing out. This is a health issue pure a simple so compition shouldnt matter

[lebesset]

does anyone know what a typical current F1 seat weighs ?

[thomin]

Yep, makes perfect sense. Come on FIA, this isn't rocket science.

In fact, the FIA could change this mid season, it is a safety issue after all...what if a driver dehydrates mid-race?

At the very least, they should implement the change for next year though.

[lebesset]

Yep, makes perfect sense. Come on FIA, this isn't rocket science.

In fact, the FIA could change this mid season, it is a safety issue after all...what if a driver dehydrates mid-race?

At the very least, they should implement the change for next year though.

you are correct ...they COULD change it this season ; if it causes overweight it would be the same penalty for all

[rjsa]

Weight is a performance issue in a lot of sports and you don't see anyone handicaping for weight anywhere... It's more a case of bad guidance or even dopping.

[Blanchimont]

The funny thing about this is that the FIA has already acted on this. Not in the exact way that there is a minimum seat plus driver weight, but the total car weight is once again increased which should reduce the disadvantage of the heavier drivers.

From the regulations, page 73

"ARTICLE 22 : CHANGES FOR 2015

22.2 Changes to Article 4.1:

4.1 Minimum weight:
The weight of the car, without fuel, must not be less than 701kg at all times during the Event."



And don't forget that teams are always developping their cars and introduce lighter chassis, Force India for example is said to be below the weight limit.
https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/443413557586452480

[beelsebob]

The funny thing about this is that the FIA has already acted on this. Not in the exact way that there is a minimum seat plus driver weight, but the total car weight is once again increased which should reduce the disadvantage of the heavier drivers.

From the regulations, page 73

"ARTICLE 22 : CHANGES FOR 2015

22.2 Changes to Article 4.1:

4.1 Minimum weight:
The weight of the car, without fuel, must not be less than 701kg at all times during the Event."

And don't forget that teams are always developping their cars and introduce lighter chassis, Force India for example is said to be below the weight limit.

https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/443413557586452480

The problem is that they've acted on it in a bizarre way. By simply increasing the minimum car weight, they allow teams to keep telling drivers "you've got to be lighter", because it gets them positionable ballast. By specifying a minimum driver + seat weight, they take that option away from the teams.

[lebesset]

says it all really , doesn't it
even if they have a new chassis so he is not overweight he will still suffer a disadvantage as there will ballasting in the other car

http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/18227/9 ... on-of-time

[Blanchimont]

Even the ballasting is regulated, now and also for 2015.

Next season there is a total weight limit of 701kg including the driver and at the same time the axle loads are given by:

"Weight distribution :
The weight applied on the front and rear wheels must not be less than 319kg and 375kg respectively at all times during the qualifying practice session."

319kg +375kg = 694kg, this is more than today's weight limit. 701kg - 694kg = 7kg are left to use as ballast.

Conclusion: If the teams next year are able to build cars that weigh less than 694kg including the heavier driver, then the heavier driver has no disadvantage.

[lebesset]

Even the ballasting is regulated, now and also for 2015.

Next season there is a total weight limit of 701kg including the driver and at the same time the axle loads are given by:

"Weight distribution :
The weight applied on the front and rear wheels must not be less than 319kg and 375kg respectively at all times during the qualifying practice session."

319kg +375kg = 694kg, this is more than today's weight limit. 701kg - 694kg = 7kg are left to use as ballast.

Conclusion: If the teams next year are able to build cars that weigh less than 694kg including the heavier driver, then the heavier driver has no disadvantage.

7Kg ??? that's huge !

[Blanchimont]

This season some teams are already under the current weight limit of 691kg, so next year probably all teams will reach the 694kg including the driver. The 7kg to reach the 701kg for 2015 will then be available to both the lighter and heavier drivers.

The only possible difference between the lighter and the heavier driver then would be the height of the driver COG as the height of the driver COG has a small influence on load distribution during cornering, but how big is that influence regarding the total car COG?

And of course the moment of inertia around the vertical axis depends on the distribution of the driver's mass around the COG, but again, how big is the difference regarding the total car moment of inertia?