Scarbs has done a good article on the belt tension sensor they used in Chile. I'm not sure how the mechanics know the belt is tensioned correctly, if it's an audio or LED cue? But I don't think it prevents the car starting up. https://drivetribe.com/p/fe-clunk-click ... bEF8MWHZUg
So Techeetah had modified belts to save time (against the rules) recorded the fastest pit stop of the weekend and won the race with a 1-2 by a couple of seconds and escape with a 30k fine. And keep the win. Which was also the first ever 1-2 finish in the history of the sport apparently
So Techeetah had modified belts to save time (against the rules) recorded the fastest pit stop of the weekend and won the race with a 1-2 by a couple of seconds and escape with a 30k fine. And keep the win. Which was also the first ever 1-2 finish in the history of the sport apparently
Yeah... they sort of modified them. They added a loop with cable ties through the ends of the top straps to create a 'handle' (apparently used in WEC all the time) which allowed the mechanics to tighten them more easily. Officially it's a modification to an FIA homologated part, which is prohibited, but as ever there seems to be some ambiguity in the wording. Seems the stewards agreed that the wording of the rules didn't expressly prohibit it, so no DSQ but presumably the fine is to dissuade others from the practice in the future. The other suggestion seems to be that the fine is because they didn't declare it before the race?!
From the motorsport.com article:
Techeetah team principal Mark Preston said the FIA’s wording that "additions" to seat belts are tolerated in some categories suggested there was a “grey area” over what can and cannot be altered... According to the stewards, the FIA’s technical and safety departments will clarify “what, if any, modifications are permissible in respect of the safety harnesses” before the next race in Mexico on March 3.
Could be a little dangerous as they race to save every tenth they can. I can imagine a driver trying to fasten his own belt on the way down the put lane. Maybe the seat belt has a switch inside that wont let the car accelerate until the belt is locked in.
Have you ever driven a Formula car? The driver can't fasten the belts; it's too confining and there is no room for the driver to manipulate belts. You need a mechanic to do it. Tighten, yes, but buckle? No.
I doubt it's that complicated to do it this since Hamilton himself admitted on undoing his belt after a victory to be able to celebrate better. I think they can do/undo they just can't adjust around the tightness by themselves.
which also show that if FIA don't have a problem with that they should not have with a driver fastening the belt on the pit lane.
Whiting: "At the speeds Lewis was driving at, I think that's a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Loosen them, not undo them."
Felipe Massa: "But you cannot loosen them. It's very difficult, you need to take it off."
Whiting: "I was asked a question and I said, no, you should not undo them, but if you can loosen them off, I don't see a big issue with that. Lewis, what do you do, do you loosen them or undo them?"
Hamilton: "Undo them. I don't do it very often. Montreal I did, a few other races."
Could be a little dangerous as they race to save every tenth they can. I can imagine a driver trying to fasten his own belt on the way down the put lane. Maybe the seat belt has a switch inside that wont let the car accelerate until the belt is locked in.
Have you ever driven a Formula car? The driver can't fasten the belts; it's too confining and there is no room for the driver to manipulate belts. You need a mechanic to do it. Tighten, yes, but buckle? No.
I doubt it's that complicated to do it this since Hamilton himself admitted on undoing his belt after a victory...
Undo is completely different to tighten. Drivers MUST be able to undo the seat belts or they´d be trapped after any crash
Re: Formula E
Posted: 05 Feb 2018, 21:59
by NathanOlder
Im pretty sure if a driver had a very loose belt, he could tighten them himself, not to the tighttightness that his crew does it, but tight enough that its not flapping around in the wind. So going back to my original statement, a drive could be tightening his own belt as he drove down the put lane.
Re: Formula E
Posted: 05 Feb 2018, 22:16
by Just_a_fan
He won't be able to tighten it enough to be comfortable / effective during high-g braking.
Re: Formula E
Posted: 07 Feb 2018, 13:54
by Jolle
For a driver to do his own belts is pretty complicated. There are 6 belts: two crotch (thin loops not to dive under the belts), two hip and two shoulder straps. The crotch and hip belts are made to measure on length. The shoulder straps have a tightening loop on it, and can be easily be pulled tight by the driver while driving (what they do often when there body “sets” into their seats more and more). Undoing the belts is just one button on the center lock, where all belts come together.
So, fasten is almost impossible by just the driver, tighten is easy and undo is very simple. Loosen is also almost impossible (because the way the tighten loops work).
Re: Formula E
Posted: 06 Mar 2018, 16:40
by Powy
16 minute video analysis of the new cars by Scarbs:
