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Post by Kev Revmoon on Oct 5, 2010 19:03:24 GMT
The below article from Planet F1 discusses Richard Branson's views on whether blue flags should be scrapped from the sport, forcing frontrunners to pass backmarkers for real and creating a bit more excitement. My own view is, whilst it will create a new area of skills to separate the best from the merely good and may serve to spice things up a bit, there is too much scope for some teams (Sauber) to impede some other teams (McLaren) but let some other teams (Ferrari) through really easily. What do others think? www.planetf1.com/news/18227/6427013/Branson-Blue-flags-should-be-scrappedRichard Branson has joined the call for blue flags to be scrapped, forcing those at the front to put some effort into lapping backmarkers. Earlier this season, Lotus Racing team owner Tony Fernandes said he would like to see drivers have to work at overtaking, instead of having backmarkers just move aside when the blue flags are waved. "Drivers are paid to overtake, whether they are back markers or at the front," he said. "I think it would be good for the sport to get rid of blue flags. In the days of Ken Tyrrell, he would never let any car pass." This is a sentiment echoed by Branson, whose Virgin company is the title sponsor of another backmarker outfit, Virgin Racing. "It would be a lot more fun if they didn't have blue flags," Branson told Autosport. "I am sure some of the more established teams would not like it, but it is a racing track and they should not have to be told to pull over. "If that is what Tony is saying, I definitely agree with him. It doesn't sound like racing - and it makes a bit of a mockery of the sport."
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Post by shumiferades on Oct 5, 2010 21:04:55 GMT
We need to keep the blue flags. The dunce teams are so slow it would be terrible with out them. Bruno Senna gets in the way enough as it is.
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Post by jaguarfan on Oct 5, 2010 22:34:39 GMT
I think they should be removed. If a car gets lapped, it almost makes it impossible to unlap himself because as soon they do, they get the flags in the face. it also ruins the racing at the back. So what if some of the cars are slow. As long as there is racing there will always be a 'slow' car and if the leaders cant pass the car thats too slow, thats their problem.
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Post by shumiferades on Oct 6, 2010 19:25:13 GMT
It’s terrible that F1 now has so many awfully slow cars. Bernie and Max made a mistake when they took the sport down this line. Apparently the likes of HRT and Lotus are critical to F1. It’s hard to see how. These cars don’t have an F1 duck and blown diffuser and likely hardly a double diffuser or anything like a level of downforce. These cars are so bad they basically do not resemble F1 cars and it will be years before any of these teams produce something which does. You only have to look at Hamilton’s exit from the last GP. His have a go hero move on Webber came about because Webber got held up by a slow car, so really they get in the way and stop racing or cause drivers to crash. The sooner these teams go bust the better in the mean time lets move them out the way so the actual F1 cars can race.
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Post by Kev Revmoon on Oct 6, 2010 19:41:12 GMT
I say it again, Schumiferades - what *do* you like?
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Post by miss_schumi_jr on Oct 7, 2010 15:29:51 GMT
I think blue flags are a good idea, but i think there should be less of them. Just three a lap or something, cos at the minute it is stupid how early they are shown to a car! The amount of times it is waaaaay before a approaching car is anywhere near enough to pass by is ridiculous - then it ruins a backmarkers race, and whilst they might be slower, they are still racing - lapped cars can be well into the points in some races, and it is very unfair when they are battling with someone to have to slow down stupidly cos the blue flags were waved too early. Three a lap would be perfect, cos if they hadnt got out of the way within a lap then the bloomin well should be punished lol! That also put a bit of pressure on the passing driver to make an effort too, cos at the minute it is very easy for them - backmarkers practically stop to let them past - which isnt the way it should be - they shouldnt race them, but they shouldnt have to ruin thier own race for it either. Petrov i think it was, although i cant remember for sure, lost out on a point last race because blue flags meant he had to practically park his car to let the leaders though at the end, went a lap down, and couldnt benefit from the penalties to Sutil and Hulkenberg, who were not that far ahead of him. Not that i'm complaining, cos Hulk at least got a point cos of that, but Petrov lost out because of having to immediately leap out of the way!
As for the slower cars being sooo slow - they, apart from a couple of times early on for HRT, would have qualified for every race under the 107% rule, making them faster than many of the previous slow cars, so they arent that bad. Plus without the 'slow' cars we would only have 18 cars on the grid - which is ridiculous! Also the majority of the drivers who complain about slow cars, were driving one when they started out and would have been damn glad of it at the time, so they can get off their high horses and remember that every team, and driver for that matter, has to start out somewhere - all three have done a damn good job in thier first season - if they are still slow after three, four years, then fine criticise them then, but in their first year they have done a good job, and provided six drivers with a drive in the sport. Plus to truly appreciate the fast cars, you need the slow ones! And having cars to lap often provides the only entertainment in what can sometimes be very boring races!!
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Post by shumiferades on Oct 7, 2010 16:06:22 GMT
In the past there was normally only one team minardi slower than or as slow as 107%, sure there was more in ancient history. When there are three of these teams it looks more stupid. Also i think it is possible some of them will be slower next year compared to front running pace hrt at least if they are still there.
I agree the flags are waved to early. They are to help pass back markers.should have to move to allow passing not slow to allow catching.
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Post by Kev Revmoon on Oct 7, 2010 18:25:05 GMT
I think 3 blue flags a lap is too frequent. 1 a lap? Force the lazy sods in the best cars to earn their bread.
Personally, I'm still in favour of making the drivers move from team to team during a season! Hehe! That way they all get to drive the best and worst cars. I think my wife wouldn't approve of this because I would be on my feet all race screaming, "Suffer!" at Lewis Hamilton.
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