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The FIA is working on improving the visibility of the starting lights after problems were reported by Pierre Gasly and Robert Kubica at last weekend's Australian Grand Prix.
Both drivers stated that the higher rear wings for the 2019 season blocked their view of the lights, and they had to rely on the actions of the other drivers to get off the line.
"With the new bigger rear wings, I couldn’t see the lights on the grid so I had to react with the cars around me and I lost a couple of places," Gasly said.
Kubica added: "When I stopped [on the grid] I couldn't see the lights," said Kubica. "The rear wing of the McLaren was hiding it, so I could see the first block [of lights] and not the rest. So I had to move to the left - and it was a bit of a panic moment."
The FIA conducted an investigation after the race to look into why the problem occurred.
It was determined that rather than a one-off mishap, the blocking was a direct result of the higher rear wings that have been built for this year.
The rear wings were made bigger for the 2019 season in order to increase the DRS effect and increase the number of overtakes that take place during the race. It is believed that the FIA is discussing solutions with the F1 Group to eliminate the issues for Bahrain.
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Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Replies (7)
Login to replyf1dave
Posts: 782
Maybe because of how far back they were.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
That and driver height probably has some effect on vis as well.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
From the pic above it looks like the starting grid slopes down in the back which would also affect visibility over the new wings.
f1dave
Posts: 782
Periscopes attached to halos. . . best idea ever!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Hah! I'll top that! How about start lights... mounted on each Halo!? Innovation! Think Different!
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
How about if you don't qualify in the top 10 you don't get lights you just have to start when you see the cars in front of you start moving.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Also, to spice up the show, the front runners get their eyes covered, and they have to start blind and have to try to remove the eye cover while racing.