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Mika Hakkinen has backed the investigation into the sort of pitstop incidents seen so far in 2018. In Australia, both Haas cars were released from the pits with loose wheels, and in Bahrain a Ferrari mechanic's leg was badly broken in a sickening incident.
Hakkinen, the 1998 and 1999 world champion, said the speed of the sub-3 second pitstops seen today means the risks are high. "No one should underestimate the challenge faced by the pit crew mechanics," the Finn told his Unibet column.
Hakkinen said F1 has changed since his day, with automatic 'traffic light' systems now in the place of the traditional 'lollipop man'. "Considering how important safety is in F1, including the introduction of the Halo this year, it is important for the teams and the FIA to look again at the pitstops," he said.
Following Bahrain, top official Charlie Whiting has said the FIA will look closely into the recent incidents. Hakkinen said of pitstops: "They are a really important part of the spectacle, so I would not want to see that disappear, but maybe the time has come to consider whether the automated systems are the right way to go. When you have people's lives at stake, maybe humans should be making the final decision." (GMM)
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Replies (4)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Ferrari swears by that light system, and while it is true that there have been very very few incidents, it's also clear that it's not the first time someone gets ran over at Ferrari because of their system.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Sorry but the fight should be on the track not the pit lane. Make it mandatory minimum 4 or 5 sec. stop (or what the regulators deem safe to do the necessary with a modest margin). One badly broken leg is enough or do they wait for a life changing injury or a death? The teams have to make enough time on the track, that’s where they’re supposed to be racing!
Pauli
Posts: 140
There is big problem in track designs that makes pit stops cost more than gains they provide from fresh tyres. That why teams have to push limits with pit stops. If we had pit lane designs that would reduce pit stop cost then maybe there would be better possibility to add a safety margin.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I vehemently disagree. This is the kind of discussion that leads to the implementation of the halo, or in years past the introduction of grooved tyres to slow cars down, or discussion about creating a cockpit cover, and the banning of refueling on the pit lane. I respect that people disagree regarding where they draw the line between showmanship and safety. For me, each of those aforementioned aspects of racing cross the line.