Let's say it's Q3 in Monaco and there's only 30 seconds left on the clock and a driver is going through the tunnel. He knows he can't reach the start/finish line before the chequered flag unless he cuts the nouvelle chicane. Is he allowed to do that to do that on his outlap so he can start his lap?
Posted Jun 2, 2015, 12:28 AM UTC
I would imagine you have to respect the track limits.
If you end up leaving the pits with 1:20 on the clock something is very wrong with the strategists.
If you end up leaving the pits with 1:20 on the clock something is very wrong with the strategists.
Yeah, that would be roughly as dumb as calling in a driver who is up front on a circuit where it takes a miracle to pass even with a big tire advantage.
Agreed strategy would be screwed up but on an outlap? Why would cutting one turn effect anything?? Obviously you cant cut every corner but one chicane??
The point in qualifying is that you only have X time to do Y things. That includes out laps, fast laps, and in laps. If you, or your team messes it up, you should not be able to cut corners to save time.
hmm interesting but im pretty sure you could play the "cold brakes" card on your outlap and save time by skipping the chicane. Obviously you would have to brake on the telimetry to prove this but i duno i see no issue with skippin a corner on an outlap. Don't tell me that teams dont think of these exact things to "fix" a lapse in strategy. Call it cheating if you like but thats racing. I could be wrong there may be a regulation/rule about this
I don't think it's allowed. You would have to cut the chicane at full speed for there to be a time benefit, so that would be dangerous. There's no specific provision that I can find in the regs, but they could nail you on erratic driving and unsafe rejoining or something.
thanks for the research. I guess they could do that. I personally think some of the penalties these days are overkill but thats me. Maybe one day this scenerio will play out for us
No. There was an incident a few years ago where Vettel was investigated for cutting a corner on an inlap so that he would be able to change tyres and refuel in time for another run (and the team had told him to push on the inlap). He was eventually not penalised as the stewards deemed he would have had time to start his last flying lap even without the corner cut, but the point is if you can't take a shortcut on an inlap then you certainly can't do it on your outlap either.
Korea 2011 for those interested
As long as it isn't a timed qualifying lap then it should be fine.
Interesting question, I remember back at Suzuka in 2011, Schumacher and Webber got past a slow moving Lewis Hamilton by cutting the final chicane, both just made it for their final Q3 runs, I don't recall any penalty being given at the time.
i would assume so. as long as he doesn't cut the chicane during a timed qualy lap i see no issue here
I love how this sub downvotes opinions. When someone says i think they obviously do not know exactly. Im not afraid of admitting i was wrong if there is an actual rule im not aware of
the thing is, in this case, there is no such thing as an opinion, but facts, and your post gives a wrong answer.
The problem is that the OP is asking for clarification of a hard-and-fast rule and not an opinion on the matter.
While it's technically illegal, for a shortcut to be the difference between making it through or not, then that means the driver is already pushing really hard and can be justified as a mistake. Therefore they probably wouldn't get penalised
Depends on who does it.
Agree.
No, it is illegal. Article 20.2 of the FIA sporting regulations:
The driver would most definitely be contravening the last point, but also would be gaining an advantage. They would also be seen as driving dangerously as they'd have to cut the chicane at high speed in your example, and they'd be rejoining the track dangerously.
It's just common sense as well - you can't expect it to be legal to take a shortcut across the track to make it back in time. Being able to manage the qualifying time limit is an important aspect of the challenge of qualifying. Interesting question though!
Britney got away with leaving the track while 'gaining any lasting advantage' at Monaco last year.
the advantage described in the rule is one of space and/or time, not of ending the running of other cars. The rule Rosberg was suspected of breaching was the rule regarding deliberate impeding of another driver, and probably others, but not this one.
He should have been, as he left the track and gained an advantage.
The problem here is try proving he did it on purpose. Are we going to start penalizing every driver that goes off the track and brings out the yellow flags?
He didn't gain an advantage. He gave others a disadvantage.
He didn't do it deliberately, though.
Did he gain advantage?
The advantage part refers to the rejoining of the track, not the leaving. It was (ruled) not deliberate and the rejoining did not give him an advantage.
Piss off.
Rage much?
Idiocy and blatant, blind hate can be infuriating at times.