The return of lapping in F1

[noisebox]

One of the really positive aspects of the new teams and rules is that we are now likely to see the return of lapping in F1. For the last few years only a small handful (if any) cars have been lapped during the majority of races. With Lotus & Virgin looking like they're at least 4-5 seconds off the pace we could see them lapped 3 or 4 times each race. Also with refuelling now gone there will be greater variance in strategy and that will probably lead to a bigger field spread, so potentially some of the more competitive teams will also be lapped. I just hope that they are not too respectful to the leaders and will actually have some influence on the outcome of races, it's no fun watching them jump out the way at the first sight of a blue flag.

This begs the question... is Jarno Trulli the new Andrea de Cesaris?

[TomWazzleshaw]

This begs the question... is Jarno Trulli the new Andrea de Cesaris?

Yes

To be honest though I completely agree with you although my suggestion for letting each team choose which 2 compounds they want would make this effect greater (I suggest we send it to the FIA sometime soon )

And I hope to god that they do have an effect in the outcome

[jackanderton]

I just hope that they are not too respectful to the leaders and will actually have some influence on the outcome of races, it's no fun watching them jump out the way at the first sight of a blue flag.

I've long held the view there should be no obligation to let someone past. If a blue flag helps indicate someone behind is coming up to lap you then very good, but this is racing. The backmarkers must lose enough time having to move out of the racing line, and in some cases pull out of their own scraps just to let the privileged drivers through, which compounds their situation.

So yes, three cheers for Pedro Diniz and Enrique Bernoldi.

[eagleash]

I just hope that they are not too respectful to the leaders and will actually have some influence on the outcome of races, it's no fun watching them jump out the way at the first sight of a blue flag.

I've long held the view there should be no obligation to let someone past. If a blue flag helps indicate someone behind is coming up to lap you then very good, but this is racing. The backmarkers must lose enough time having to move out of the racing line, and in some cases pull out of their own scraps just to let the privileged drivers through, which compounds their situation.

So yes, three cheers for Pedro Diniz and Enrique Bernoldi.

I am in agreement. Deliberate blocking or stupidity is one thing but backmarkers having to just pull over at the first sight of a "leader" is not for me what racing should be about. One thing that made (for example) Senna a "great" was the way he could carve through backmarkers. (& punch them later). Having said that, backmarkers can also ruin a good race. So there has to be some sort of control.

[SDHammer]

I think a driver should have the right to defend himself from going a lap down (obviously without being dangerous) however if he is already a lap or more down then he should accept his fate and move out of the way.

[rffp]

I think a driver should have the right to defend himself from going a lap down (obviously without being dangerous) however if he is already a lap or more down then he should accept his fate and move out of the way.

It would be just like IndyCar, where actually the backmarkers will openly complain when a leader tries to lap them. It sounds perfect!

[CarlosFerreira]

Also with refuelling now gone there will be greater variance in strategy and that will probably lead to a bigger field spread, so potentially some of the more competitive teams will also be lapped.

Well, no. By banning refueling, what you do is remove one variable out of the strategy equation; in other words, strategies will be more similar now.

What has removed the impact of strategy in the last few years was a lack of ability or will to implement different stuff in order to get one over the opposition. Low risk-taking, anyone? Every team and driver simply went for their "optimal" strategy and resigned themselves to run on dirty air for the whole race.

The man who could make ludicrous strategies work is back on the field and paired with the ultimate brain - and the FIA took their advantage away. I, for one, don't expect any improvements from the ban on refueling.

[Mister Fungus]

Well, no. By banning refueling, what you do is remove one variable out of the strategy equation; in other words, strategies will be more similar now.

I disagree. I think it will depend from driver to driver and from car to car how they will cope with the tires so teams won't be able to just say "OK it's optimal to pit in lap 32" like they used to, because tyre wear will probably be more unpredictable than before. So some driver might feel good and lap good times and say I think I can stay on track for 5-10 more laps, which in turn might change their whole race strategy unlike before when driver HAD to pit in lap XY cause otherwise he would run out of fuel.

[CarlosFerreira]

Well, no. By banning refueling, what you do is remove one variable out of the strategy equation; in other words, strategies will be more similar now.

I disagree. I think it will depend from driver to driver and from car to car how they will cope with the tires so teams won't be able to just say "OK it's optimal to pit in lap 32" like they used to, because tyre wear will probably be more unpredictable than before. So some driver might feel good and lap good times and say I think I can stay on track for 5-10 more laps, which in turn might change their whole race strategy unlike before when driver HAD to pit in lap XY cause otherwise he would run out of fuel.

I see your point, but don't agree. Engineers and teams will set the cars up to maximize tyre performance; standard tyres, standard fuel loads and ever-similar cars will mean tyre performance will be similar to all, meaning the similar strategy will be the same throughout. I don't buy the idea different styles will have an impact: teams will coach the pilots through to maximize performance. It'll be the same game as usual.

[jackanderton]

This is probably what this month of testing has been about- calculating a)how good the cars are on fuel b)how good the drivers are on fuel. We know that Massa, Vettel and Hamilton tend to chew up their tyres more than their teammates and likewise are heavier on fuel consumption. Anyway, this is going off topic...




Please post more of your favourite 'No Way, Jose!' backmarkers.

[watka]

Tiago Monteiro!!!


I'm excited by the prospect the Trulli-train holding up a whole load of front-runners ala Grouillard.

[Waris]

Hmm... When I first read this thread I was actually not too keen on the prospect of people being lapped, but, now that I've given it a bit of thought, I think it might actually make for some 'interesting' (he he he) situations.

Edited to add: I want to see how Bruno Senna is going to cope with having to be lapped...

[Stefangp]

Nothing say's "No Way Jose" more that the greatest GMIF1P ever, Mr. Rene Arnoux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khA67-r5lSQ

[noisebox]

De Cesaris and Mansell at Imola:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPe0t02dWF4

Senna and Nakajima (Snr) at Interlagos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGp78JR2 ... re=related at 8:10

[Phoenix]

The Big 3 of lapping ettiquete:



All 3, along with Arnoux, drove for Ligier...

[Waris]

Ricardo Rosset! Now that was someone who was quite experienced in lapping etiquette, simply because it happened to him so often... Man, sometimes I miss Ricardo Rosset. 1998, the season in which he was lapped so often, was the first F1 season I followed, so he has become the archetypical mobile chicane for me. (Of course, I know (partly because of the great F1 Rejects) that there have been others more exemplary of this. But still, nostalgia and all that.)

[eagleash]

Regazzoni!

The widest car ever.