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Should F1 cars lose their mirrors?
Yes 2 (9.5%)
No 19 (90.5%)
Total Votes: 21
Ban Mirrors
Topic Started: Aug 2 2007, 08:46 PM (718 Views)
ppparkinson9
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Chief Engineer
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I was reading Autosports weekly ask Nigel feature where readers can ask Nigel Roebuck about any subject. This week one question really got me thinking-should mirrors be banned to improve the racing?

It sounds loony, but this is a view held by Martin Brundle. This was his argument:

"What Schumacher did to Alonso at Silverstone was appalling - but nothing is ever done about that stuff. I think it's because they fail to realise how crazily dangerous it can be. Actually, that's why I think we should get rid of mirrors..."

I (Nigel Roebuck) was, to say the least, taken aback.

"I'm serious! If you don't have mirrors, you cannot block. OK, you're following someone, and you know he doesn't have mirrors, so you know he hasn't seen you, so you know he will turn into the corner.

"So without mirrors, once the race gets going, it would be a lot safer."


This makes real sense to me, MotoGP has no mirrors, of course and the argument is pretty watertight. If you can't see where the other drivers car is, you can't block them and this really might help overtaking more than any technical changes. Best of all it would be one of the cheapest rule changes ever.
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NewMrMe
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Would't the team just tell the driver who is behind them on the radio?
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ppparkinson9
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Perhaps. Though it would be difficult at the start.
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John
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NO - Martin Brundle was a pratt.
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Startline Ed
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Would make lapping interesting.
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Steelstallions
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As well as preventing them rear view vision, why not obscure their visor too, that should prove interesting racing <doh>
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Red Andy
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The irony of all this is that I was watching a Formula Palmer Audi race earlier this evening, where a young driver, attempting to rejoin the racing line after a mistake, failed to look in his mirrors (which they do have in FPA) and collided with a car coming up his inside. That sort of incident would happen much more often if the drivers didn't have mirrors.

The reason that this was ironic is because the young driver in question was Martin Brundle's son.
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safc_fan89
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You need mirrors.
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sportsman
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The whole idea is ludicrous and dangerous.
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Goblin
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you need mirrors, any thing else would just be stupid. The only other alternative would be to have team spotters around the track to talk to the driver over the radio like Nascar and such.
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The STIG
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Goblin,Aug 3 2007
08:20 AM
you need mirrors, any thing else would just be stupid. The only other alternative would be to have team spotters around the track to talk to the driver over the radio like Nascar and such.

Which is both impractical and expensive.

Sure Moto GP bikes don't have mirrors - but how wide is a motorcycle compared to a F1 car?

Daftest. Proposal. Of. Ever!
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AndyW76
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ppparkinson9,Aug 2 2007
08:46 PM
I was reading Autosports weekly ask Nigel feature where readers can ask Nigel Roebuck about any subject. This week one question really got me thinking-should mirrors be banned to improve the racing?

It sounds loony, but this is a view held by Martin Brundle. This was his argument:

"What Schumacher did to Alonso at Silverstone was appalling - but nothing is ever done about that stuff. I think it's because they fail to realise how crazily dangerous it can be. Actually, that's why I think we should get rid of mirrors..."

I (Nigel Roebuck) was, to say the least, taken aback.

"I'm serious! If you don't have mirrors, you cannot block. OK, you're following someone, and you know he doesn't have mirrors, so you know he hasn't seen you, so you know he will turn into the corner.

"So without mirrors, once the race gets going, it would be a lot safer."


This makes real sense to me, MotoGP has no mirrors, of course and the argument is pretty watertight. If you can't see where the other drivers car is, you can't block them and this really might help overtaking more than any technical changes. Best of all it would be one of the cheapest rule changes ever.

It is a crazy idea. OK, it might help overtaking but when lapping traffic, some drivers have had difficulty in letting the leaders through even with mirrors (note the legend that is Andre Decesaris). On a motorbike, you have a much better field of vision because you aren't enclosed in a car and it is easy to look back. Also it would be hazardous during qualifying if a car on a hot lap comes up on a car on an in or out lap.
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u4coffee
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Not only should they ban mirrors, they should ban all newspapers! They should be driving, not catching up on the news!!! No wonder they never overtake <doh>
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Red Andy
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<doh>
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Norbert
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John,Aug 2 2007
10:38 PM
NO - Martin Brundle was a pratt.

That's a very abrupt outburst from someone usually so prim and proper! Of course, I guess you use the word so infrequently it gives you an excuse to spell it wrong too. By the way, can you please explain how a prat becomes World Sportscar Champion?

I agree though - mirrors are necessary. The Mirror, on the other hand is about as necessary as an indicator stalk on a prestige German car. Note that I did NOT single out the beloved BMW marque because Merc drivers are equally as guilty.
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