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Pit Windows In F1
Topic Started: Feb 18 2007, 02:04 PM (183 Views)
Paul_Murtagh
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Chief Engineer
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Could the idea of pit windows be successful in F1? Would it encourage overtaking on the track knowing that every driver is on the same strategy and will be pitting around the same time?
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mpv2409
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I'm not sure to be honest, I think in principle that it would be a good idea but maybe there are other ways of encouraging on track overtaking rather than pitlane overtaking. Initially it could create a bit of confusion, both for cars on track and for the spectators; and if something confuses the spectator then it's on a losing battle.

It would also take away a bit of creative variability for the team and give them less chance to spontaneously change their strategy to gain a competitive edge; some would think of that as being a good thing whist others would not.

I would rather see a cut back on refuelling during a race or even, dare I say it, stopping it completely......but then there's the issue of deciding fuel loads in qualifying (which I hate).
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The Saint
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It would help avoid teams running on low fuel to get a high grid popsition, looking good on TV on Saturday evening, be a road block for 15 laps of the race, and then pit never to be seen again!

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Red Andy
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The Saint,Feb 18 2007
03:19 PM
It would help avoid teams running on low fuel to get a high grid popsition, looking good on TV on Saturday evening, be a road block for 15 laps of the race, and then pit never to be seen again!

Being a Button/Honda fan, Saint, wouldn't you be against pit windows for that reason? ;-)

I don't think pit windows is the way to go. It all seems a bit contrived to me, which is something F1 needs to stay away from. If F1 is really worried about there not being enough overtaking on the track, it needs to encourage it in other ways - by which I mean major restrictions on aerodynamics.

I think pit windows etc. lead to a real danger of manufactured racing, which is okay for a series like GP2, but this is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport. The drivers shouldn't need any help to make them race, for goodness' sake!
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The Saint
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I support Button (and all the other Brits), not a Honda fan - the McLaren in the sig is a little clue as to my allegiance being nationality based.

Your reply was somewhat predictable Red, though I fail to see how the races are 'manufactured' by giving the teams mandatory pit windows, any more than giving the teams mandatory weights, ride heights, wing sizes etc....
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Red Andy
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I support Button (and all the other Brits), not a Honda fan - the McLaren in the sig is a little clue as to my allegiance being nationality based.

I know; I merely added "Honda" because it wouldn't be fair to say that Button is solely responsible for his team's low fuel glory run strategy it has adopted on occasions. Anyway, just an aside and a joke! :D

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I fail to see how the races are 'manufactured' by giving the teams mandatory pit windows, any more than giving the teams mandatory weights, ride heights, wing sizes etc....

I think mandatory pit windows only make sense in series where strategy doesn't play such a big part - in A1GP, for example, where cars only pit to change tyres and not refuel. The reason I refer to them as producing "manufactured" racing in F1 is because it would remove that strategic element, which has been such an important part of F1 in recent years and (I think) has contributed positively to it.

You can argue that weight restrictions etc. do remove certain elements of design innovation, but even in the areas where innovation is permitted all the cars are more or less the same anyway - everyone tends to arrive at the same point eventually. That is not true of pit strategy - everyone has their own for each race and the rewards of having a strong strategy can be big even for teams with cars that are not necessarily the fastest (e.g. Button in Hungary).
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mpv2409
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Red Andy,Feb 18 2007
05:08 PM
You can argue that weight restrictions etc. do remove certain elements of design innovation, but even in the areas where innovation is permitted all the cars are more or less the same anyway - everyone tends to arrive at the same point eventually. That is not true of pit strategy - everyone has their own for each race and the rewards of having a strong strategy can be big even for teams with cars that are not necessarily the fastest (e.g. Button in Hungary).


I agree wholeheartedly with your comment here. Pit strategy adds an extra dimension in which a team can maximise their overall performance......and thus make up ground due to comprimised car performance.

I still maintain my view that refuelling could be stopped or limited to once, but I'd still prefer to see the teams having control over when they change their tyres.....it just adds another element to sunday afternoons.
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flood1
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Pit Windows. Oh no!

Depending on how narrow the windows are, would the teams have any more difficulty servicing both cars or would they still space them one lap apart? US racing has a stall and a crew for each car, so the sequence doesn't matter.
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dcoulthard19
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If the FIA were to introduce pit windows they would have to be double glazing.
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flood1
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dcoulthard19,Feb 18 2007
08:00 PM
If the FIA were to introduce pit windows they would have to be double glazing.

roflmao
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GeordieWomble
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Nah, can't agree with this idea; who would decide the window locations?
Who would decide how long they'd be?
AND
Who would decide HOW MANY there'd be?
Plus, what would happen under SC conditions - would the window be moved, or would cars have to go around at 80mph or whatever speed they do UNTIL the window's 'opened'?

Don't say it too loud - Max and Bernie the Dwarf might bring it in!
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