New F1 tracks must allow overtaking - Todt

**steelstallions** · 19th November 2010, 13:00

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...D=395094&FS=F1

Jean Todt has vowed to push hard to improve the spectacle of overtaking in Formula One
.

"We need to encourage more overtaking," the FIA president said in an interview with La Stampa. "In Abu Dhabi it was impossible."

Pundits were critical after the 2010 finale at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit, because Fernando Alonso was unable to pass Vitaly Petrov, while another title contender - Lewis Hamilton - could not overtake Robert Kubica.

"I'm speaking as the president of the FIA," said Frenchman Todt. "Hamilton had fresh tyres and was 2 seconds faster than Kubica and yet he failed to pass.

"From now on, before a new circuit is approved, we will evaluate the potential for the spectacle as well as the safety," he revealed.

And Autosprint quotes Todt as adding: "In this way we have already convened a meeting with technical experts such as Patrick Head and Rory Byrne."

Well the horse has bolted years ago so its a bit late shutting the barn door now.

£100's of millions spent on tracks that are no more than watching formation driving! i.e it's like formation flying, you go very very fast and none of you change formation during the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As said, when both Alonso and Lewis cannot get past a slower car, its a crap track. It was designed and built recently knowing what a modern F1 car can do and overtaking should have been designed into the track.

**ferrari4life** · 19th November 2010, 13:50

Agreed...doubt this will change.. rules need to be altered to allow car manufactures to build cars that promote passing.

**sav_pap** · 19th November 2010, 14:00

Put another to bussiness NOT Tilke then bl... bas...

**Hornet** · 19th November 2010, 16:49

Tracks like A1 or Imola for example are so simple, No need any long straights or weird geometric shape layout with all the technical corners bunched up together.

Tilke just doesn't get it.

**Ferrari_Fanatic** · 19th November 2010, 17:08

This is why they should stick with the old tracks!! I miss the german gp (OLD track)

**hogo** · 19th November 2010, 17:47

Originally Posted by Ferrari_Fanatic

This is why they should stick with the old tracks!! I miss the german gp (OLD track)

They won't and their argument - these tracks are(were) too dangerous! sigh... If driver is afraid for his life then he had to choose a dif profession.

**Tifosi** · 19th November 2010, 18:55

Originally Posted by ferrari4life

Agreed...doubt this will change.. rules need to be altered to allow car manufactures to build cars that promote passing.

exactly. Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't we have those stupid tall rear wings this year to decrease the air turbulence behind the cars to promote overtaking? The ones that have no effect thanks to Double Diffusors being allowed which remove the benefit gained?

The tracks are only half the issue.

**Rob** · 19th November 2010, 19:53

Originally Posted by Tifosi

exactly. Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't we have those stupid tall rear wings this year to decrease the air turbulence behind the cars to promote overtaking? The ones that have no effect thanks to Double Diffusors being allowed which remove the benefit gained?

The tracks are only half the issue.

and last year, hasnt really helped at all. they should consult with the drivers, they the ones who has to race on them. Not the designers or promoters. All they interested in is how good they pits and grandstands look and pretty paint on the run off areas (car parks)

**Suzie** · 19th November 2010, 20:38

We seem to hear this every single year - "we must improve overtaking". So do it rather than talking about it!

**Ken** · 20th November 2010, 12:56

Originally Posted by steelstallions

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...D=395094&FS=F1

Well the horse has bolted years ago so its a bit late shutting the barn door now.

£100's of millions spent on tracks that are no more than watching formation driving! i.e it's like formation flying, you go very very fast and none of you change formation during the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As said, when both Alonso and Lewis cannot get past a slower car, its a crap track. It was designed and built recently knowing what a modern F1 car can do and overtaking should have been designed into the track.

"From now on, before a new circuit is approved, we will evaluate the potential for the spectacle as well as the safety," he revealed.

How about some mid season testing on new tracks for an idea, would give better evaluation and the teams get a chance to test some new ideas ????.

It could improve things all round

**Tifosi** · 20th November 2010, 13:01

Originally Posted by Ken

How about some mid season testing on new tracks for an idea, would give better evaluation and the teams get a chance to test some new ideas ????.

It could improve things all round

What Ken, you mean actually use the TEAMS to concentrate on finding out what makes overtaking possible yet challenging and then use that as the basis for determining the rules and limits for development?

Surely not!

**Ken** · 20th November 2010, 13:08

What Ken, you mean actually use the TEAMS to concentrate on finding out what makes overtaking possible yet challenging and then use that are the basis for determining the rules and limits for development?

Ermm I dont think I mentioned anything about restrictions or rule changes, just looking for an advantageous way of a/ giving teams a chance to improve and develope new ideas if they need to mid season and b/ A realistic way to see if the track design can provide more enjoyable races to watch.

Heaven forbid that there will be anymore rules that limit progress and better cars.

**KurtC** · 20th November 2010, 21:10

bring back imola!! make another AVUS track or something like the old Pescara hehe... well not seein that happend tho but hope the new tracks are good.. the Indian GP Austin and the russian being the next to come

**TIFOSI_FERRARI** · 20th November 2010, 21:53

It's Not About The new F1 tracks, it just only about Hermann Tilke and who become a poor designer of Formula One motor racing circuits and auto racer.

It's simple we need new architect.

**Hermann** · 20th November 2010, 21:57

Originally Posted by TIFOSI_FERRARI

It's Not About The new F1 tracks, it just only about Hermann Tilke and who become a poor designer of Formula One motor racing circuits and auto racer.

It's simple we need new architect.

I agree. Get rid of Tilke.

**TIFOSI_FERRARI** · 20th November 2010, 22:03

Originally Posted by Hermann

I agree. Get rid of Tilke.

yeah good point! but I belive that Mr. Bernie Ecclestone Strongly Disagree.

**Tifosi** · 20th November 2010, 22:06

Originally Posted by Ken

Ermm I dont think I mentioned anything about restrictions or rule changes, just looking for an advantageous way of a/ giving teams a chance to improve and develope new ideas if they need to mid season and b/ A realistic way to see if the track design can provide more enjoyable races to watch.

Heaven forbid that there will be anymore rules that limit progress and better cars.

I was in support of what you were saying

**flam147** · 21st November 2010, 10:26

I'm sure i read somewhere that Hermann Tilke is designing a new track to promote safety in F1
down the pit lane near the Pit wall there will be a zebra crossing to make sure the mechanics can cross safely, and there will be part time traffic lights at the end of the pit lane (and pit straight) to allow the cars to rejoin the track safely at peek times

**Ken** · 21st November 2010, 15:36

Originally Posted by Tifosi

I was in support of what you were saying

OOPs sorry

Dear me I am getting defensive in my old age

**996 GT1 Lover** · 21st November 2010, 18:48

Originally Posted by Hermann

I agree. Get rid of Tilke.

Get rid of him, and bring back ground effects so they downforce on the cars isn't so dependent on airflow over the car. Look at GP2; they use ground effects and don't have any problems with overtaking.

**Tifosi** · 21st November 2010, 20:56

Originally Posted by Ken

OOPs sorry

Dear me I am getting defensive in my old age

and i'm getting more sarcastic in my old age heheh

Sorry!

**Corey** · 21st November 2010, 23:22

New F1 tracks these days are boring, too much runoff areas(with the exception of Singapore)...

**Hornet** · 22nd November 2010, 05:29

Originally Posted by 996 GT1 Lover

Get rid of him, and bring back ground effects so they downforce on the cars isn't so dependent on airflow over the car. Look at GP2; they use ground effects and don't have any problems with overtaking.

hmm, interesting. Had no idea that ground effect is still in use in today autoracing.

If they are still using it, then I guess its safer now to use them?

If thats the case, then F1 should really seriously consider bringing back ground effects

**elekvault** · 22nd November 2010, 08:39

I think next season we might be seeing more overtaking thanks to new rules, but more things are needed:

1. Drop Tilke.
2. Bring back ground effect.
3. Bring back classic tracks like Imola (assuming they comply with safety regulations).
4. Allow for limited testing during season (maybe something like 4 or 5 scheduled testing sessions per team, anytime they want, just like they use the engines now).
5. KERS might help. Maybe some other energy recovery systems should be added.
6. New rear wings might help. Also, I think drivers should be able to lower or upper the front wing as many times as they want.
7. F-Duct should be implemented in a way the driver doesn't need to use a part of his body to use it, since that's the reason they banned it for 2011.
8. Bring back refueling. I understand it's safier like it is, but now that you could even drive a full race with one set of tyres, pit lane strategies are black or white, all the cars have the same fuel weight and the only excitement is if they will be able to switch tyres in less than 3.4 secs... Refueling will spice up everything, since some could decide to go for 2 stops with less weight and overtaking cars with more fuel should be easier.

Just my two cents...

**MundoX** · 22nd November 2010, 10:40

Do it like in WTCC, 2 shorter races with swapping positions till 8th place.

**impactX** · 22nd November 2010, 10:57

Are GP2 cars able to overtake on Tiike's tracks? If they are, then it's not the tracks' issue.

**scuderiafan** · 22nd November 2010, 17:42

Originally Posted by impactX

Are GP2 cars able to overtake on Tiike's tracks? If they are, then it's not the tracks' issue.

i don't really think it is the tracks. i heard in the news that Yas Marina will be hosting a moto gp in the near future, and i bet that sees a lot of overtaking.

I remember the 2009 Catalunya Moto Gp, one of the most exciting races i have seen, and it was at Barcelona, which everyone said was so boring on F1.

I think we need to cap the influence of Aero on the cars.

**Hornet** · 23rd November 2010, 06:14

Originally Posted by impactX

Are GP2 cars able to overtake on Tiike's tracks? If they are, then it's not the tracks' issue.

Problem is on the other hand, we've seen overtaking at other track and not at the newer ones. Alonso managed an overtaking move at Brazilian GP, and so did many other drivers at that track.

I think they both goes hand in hand. Tilke just have the ability to bring out the worse of our aero issues. One may think of it as an amplification of whatever problems we already have. So the track do play a role, though they are not the sole reason.